Durango has much to brag about as a gold-rated bicycle-friendly city, but one shortcoming is that fewer than half of its arterial roads have bicycle lanes.
Cities such as Boulder and Portland, Ore., accommodate 75 to 90 percent of their arterial roads with bike lanes, which partly explains why they are rated above Durango at platinum, according to the League of American Bicyclists.
Three forthcoming infrastructure projects, however, should stretch out busy intersections like an overweight, spandex-wearing cyclist.
As part of the reconfiguration of the intersection at Camino del Rio and U.S. Highway 160 near DoubleTree Hotel set for fall, bicycle lanes and new traffic detectors for bicycles will be installed, said Amber Blake, the city’s multi-modal administrator.
The traffic detectors should benefit those early-morning bicycle commuters who are out when the car traffic is sparse.
“Let’s say there’s not a car at an intersection. If you don’t have a special detection, it won’t trigger the traffic signal if you’re just on a bicycle,” Blake said. “It’s really important because otherwise you have to run a light.”
Bicycle lanes also are in the works for the 15th Street-East Second Avenue intersection near For The Birds and the railroad tracks.
The city is applying for a grant to extend the sidewalks on the downhill section of Florida Road where it turns into 15th Street. The city also wants to extend the bike lane so it connects to the Animas River Trail at Rotary Park.
Durango and La Plata County plan to add sidewalks and a road shoulder to the East Animas Road and County Road 251/East 32nd Street junction, near the bicycle destination of the Bread bakery.
Jim Davis, the county engineer, said plans for the project are in the design phase, but they should be completed this year with construction beginning in 2014 or 2015 depending on funding availability. It also would link the section of East Animas Road (County Road 250) with a new bike lane from Florida Road to County Road 251/East 32nd Street.
These three projects will be discussed in detail with city, county and state traffic planners and engineers during a community forum scheduled from 5-7 p.m. June 25 at Carver Brewing Co.
In addition, there will be a bicycle fashion show on new styles of commuter clothes that can be worn on the bike and inside the office.
The community forum and fashion show is part of the city’s Clean Commute Week, scheduled for June 22-28.
The city also is bringing back “Pedal Versus Metal” in which cyclists and drivers will compete to see who can accomplish the most errands around town within the same amount of time.
Cyclists have won two of the last three competitions, proving that bikes can be more convenient for in-town trips, Blake said.
Because bikes put less stress on the road, they also benefit the taxpayer by extending the life of the infrastructure, Blake said.
The city also is encouraging employers to sign up early for corporate competitions.
The category of clean commuter is not limited to cyclists. They might be those who walk, car pool or take public transit.
Last year, Blake said a resident rode his bike to a river put-in and paddled a kayak to his place of work at the Rivergate medical complex.
jhaug@durangoherald.com
Clean Commute Week
For information about events and to register for activities and contests, visit www.getarounddurango.com.
The city also wants nominations for Commuter of the Year, which should be emailed to amber.blake@durangogov.org.
