The Urban Eye Blog

The Alliance for Biking and Walking just published its third biennial benchmarking report: Bicycling and Walking in the United States, 2012 Benchmarking Report. This in-depth report “reveals data including: bicycling and walking levels and demographics; bicycle and pedestrian safety; funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects; written policies on bicycling and walking; bicycle infrastructure; bike-transit integration; bicycling and walking education and encouragement activities; public health indicators; and the economic impact of bicycling and walking.” State of Colorado and the City of Denver received high rankings for bicycle and walking commuting. Here are some of the highlights:

Colorado ranks 4th in the U.S. for levels of bicycle commuting to work and ranks 14th for its share of commuters who walk and bicycle. In terms of planning, Colorado has published goals to increase walking and biking and to decrease pedestrian and bicyclists fatalities. In terms of policy, the state has a publicly available bicycle map, has adopted a “Complete Streets Policy,” has a 3-foot passing law when cars pass bicyclists, and has a policy that bicyclists can legally ride 2-abreast. In terms of education and advocacy, Colorado hosts an annual statewide bicycle conference (by Bicycle Colorado), educates the public with a Share the Road/public safety campaign, provides information on bicycling in the driver’s manual, has driver’s test questions on bicycling, and has 215 schools participating in Walk to School Day. The total economic benefit from bicycling in Colorado is over $1 billion annually and just 1.82% of the state’s transportation dollars go to bike/ped. 

Denver ranks 9th in the U.S. for levels of bicycle commuting to work. The City and County of Denver has published goals to increase walking and bicycling and has adopted master plans for each; has adopted a “Complete Streets Policy,” to provide safe streets for all users; and requires bicycle parking in new buildings and at public events. In terms of infrastructure, Denver has 2.7 miles of bicyclist facilities per square mile, compared to the city average of 1.8 miles of bicycle facilities. It also has 71 miles of on-street bike lanes, 85 miles of multi-use paths, 258 miles of signed bicycle routes, 2,700 miles of sidewalk, and is planning for 162 miles of new bicycle facilities and 54 miles of pedestrian facilities. Denver has innovative bicycle facilities including shared lane markings, bicycle boulevards, bike boxes, cycle tracks, and bicycle traffic lights.  Biking and transit are linked as 99% of buses have bicycle racks on them and there are 682 bike parking spaces at bus stop. Denver provides bicycle education courses, Bike to Work Day events, open street initiatives, a city-sponsored bicycle ride, has bicycle and walking advocacy organizations (BikeDenver and WalkDenver) and a public bicycle-share program (Denver B-cycle).