Bike commuting advocates in Denver, CO expect more than 30,000 people to participate in the region's Bike to Work Day June 24.
Bike to Work Day is celebrated in many communities across Colorado, but the Denver metro area’s event is the largest in the state and second largest in the country.
Organizers at the Denver Regional Council of Government’s (DRCOG) Way to Go program say hundreds of businesses will host company teams and encourage employees to leave their cars at home. Volunteers from across nine counties in the Denver metro region will operate nearly 250 bike stations.
“We are seeing more emphasis than ever on active transportation, with more bike and pedestrian projects a part of the mix,” said DRCOG Director of Marketing and Communications Steve Erickson. “Bike to Work Day registration numbers support bike advocacy and, as a result, bike infrastructure that impacts the entire region.”
Two significant regional bike projects include the US 36 Bikeway and the Arapahoe Street Protected Bike Lane. The first phase of the US 36 Bikeway opens in conjunction with Bike to Work Day, on June 24, and includes an 11-mile portion from Westminster to Broomfield, when completed it will be an 18-mile bicycle path between Boulder and Westminster. The Arapahoe Street Protected Bike Lane is part of a larger plan to create a network of safe, dedicated bike lanes throughout the downtown area of Denver.
More than 29,000 people participated in last year’s event, along with about 950 companies and hundreds of volunteers at more than 200 stations. The event has grown, along with Colorado’s bicycling population. Denver ranks as the fourth most bikeable city in the United States, according to Walk Score 2015 and the fifth fastest growing bike-commuting region in the country between 2000 and 2011, according to Bikeleague.org/reports.
“In the future, we’d like to be known for our smart commuting population,” continued Erickson. “It’s easy to do, and if more people use biking as a means of commuting, even once a month, they can make a substantial, positive impact on their health and the environment.”
Organizers urged participants to register for the event to ensure they have enough food and public safety workers on hand to provide the best experience.
Hundreds of Breakfast Stations will open from 6:30-9 a.m. around the region. At these stations, riders can enjoy free refreshments, giveaways and camaraderie on their way to work. Bike Home Stations will open from 4:30-6 p.m. for the trip home. There are also water stations open in the afternoon and bike parties in the evening.
For a comprehensive listing and map of Breakfast and Bike Home Stations, water stations, bike parties and group rides, please visit BikeToWorkDay.us.
