Map showing the newest addition to Denver's protected bike lane network
Saturday the 23rd of October was a great day to be at the La Alma Recreation center for the celebration of Denver's newest bike lane.
The celebratory event was put together by the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) to celebrate the completion of a section of protected bike lane on 13th Avenue going past the La Alma rec center and into downtown Denver, and also to promote the City’s Vision Zero Program. Protected bike lanes offer a safer buffer for bicyclists to travel and gives the community in the area another option to go along 13th Avenue, with the hopes of reducing car traffic and increasing active modes of transportation.
The festivities at the events started with bike education from fixing flat tires and raising handlebars to providing expertise on any questions related to bicycles that community members had as they stop by. Delicious food was provided to attendees for free by Taco Block, a local food truck with excellent food. A bicycle giveaway was provided to encourage biking in the area by donating 14 bikes of different sizes to those who entered the raffle along with locks and helmets, as well as gift cards to the local bike shop Bikes Together..
To wrap up the afternoon fun Bicycle Colorado led a community bike ride to test out the new protected bike lanes on 13th Avenue. They made sure to check the rider’s bikes and helmets to ensure the ride would go smoothly and it was a success!
Local news outlet 9News was there to cover the event with a video segment of the new protected bike lane which you can watch by clicking here.