Boulder for All - We Need a Network
A complete cycling network is more than the sum of its parts because no individual bike lane is particularly valuable unless the entire journey is safe. Boulder has not yet reached the “tipping point” where a safe, complete network allows people to feel safe on all bicycling journeys.Network Effects
Too often, after the installation of new bike infrastructure, drivers complain that there are too few cyclists using the new infrastructure to justify the expense and the loss of road space dedicated to motor vehicles. Sometimes, this is just bad data seasoned with sour grapes. But, sometimes, the reality is that a significant shift towards alternate modes of travel requires a complete network on which those modes can safely travel. Time and again, we see that communities that begin with very low rates of cycling and no existing cycling culture experience a substantial increase in cycling when a complete cycling network is built. As a network of bike routes grows, the number of accessible destinations grows exponentially. Sometimes, when a network crosses the tipping point, this transformation can happen very quickly, as is the case in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Seville, Spain, and Paris, France. In fact, the transition to cycling can sometimes happen so fast that bike lanes need to be widened in order to accommodate all of the additional riders.
The Core Arterial Network & Beyond
Boulder’s Core Arterial Network is a collection of arterials slated for redesign to improve safety for all modes of transit. These arterials were chosen because they have been the locations on which a disproportionate number of crash-related serious injuries and fatalities have occurred. And a quick glance at the map of CAN reveals that these arterials also serve destinations that generate huge numbers of trips, like 28th Street and CU. Vehicle speeds on these arterials are also too high, high enough to generate more than their fair share of tragedy. So it just makes good sense to prioritize these arterials with upgrades to infrastructure that provide better protection for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.
As important as is completion of CAN, Boulder has substantial remaining work to do on its Low Stress Walk & Bike Network and in creating Safe Routes to Schools and Parks. Data from the most recent study of mode share among residents of Boulder suggests that most of our vehicle miles traveled are now coming from errands, school drop-off/pick-up, and other local trips, not commuting to/from work. We just haven’t seen the reduction in vehicle miles traveled that one would expect with the relatively high rates of work from home, so the vehicle miles traveled must now be largely attributable less to commuting and more to bopping around town for shopping, shuttling kids to/from school, dental appointments and the like. This means that it’s not enough to make the arterials safer; neighborhood streets and collectors need to be safer, too, so that more people feel comfortable running errands and getting to school by bike or on foot.
Resources
Report a Maintenance Problem, City of Boulder
City of Boulder: To report a street maintenance related problem (potholes on the bike path, paths blocked by snow), complete the form and provide your contact information.
Report County Road Service Issue
Boulder County: To report a street maintenance related problem (potholes on the bike path, paths blocked by snow), complete the form and provide your contact information.
Report an Aggressive Driver
If you find yourself in a situation with an aggressive driver, remember you can dial *CSP (*277), free of charge. Report “real time” aggressive driving behavior to the Colorado State Patrol.
Report a Close Call – Inquire Boulder
Have you had a close call with a bicycle, pedestrian or motorist? This data is important and used in analysis of the safety of our streets.
Bike Theft Prevention & Registration
Learn tips and tricks for preventing your bicycle from being stolen, like registering your bike on Bike Index and knowing which lock to use how to properly use it.
Join the Advocacy Committee
We aspire to help Boulder become a dynamic and sustainable city that maximizes the safety, comfort, and convenience of its residents and prioritizes long-term environmental stewardship.