Boulder County releases final plans for defraying bike-car tensions - Boulder Daily Camera

Boulder County releases final plans for defraying bike-car tensions
Working group addressed problems in the canyons
By Laura Snider Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 12/11/2009 06:19:40 PM MST

A cyclist rides in Lefthand Canyon in April. Boulder County's Cyclist-Motorist Working Group just released its final recommendations for increasing the safety of the roads for both bike riders and drivers -- and decreasing the tension that's grown between the two. ( CLIFF GRASSMICK )
Some of the recommended improvements

Prompted by increased tensions over the last year between bike riders and drivers in the canyons west of Boulder, the county convened a cyclist-motorist working group in August. The group got together several times over the fall to brainstorm ways to increase safety and decrease frustration on Lee Hill Drive, Olde Stage Road, James Canyon Drive and Lefthand Canyon Drive. They presented a draft of their ideas at a public meeting in November.

Here's a look at a few of the final recommendations made by the group:

Place a temporary restroom facility at mile marker 11 in Lefthand Canyon to cut down on public urination and the use of facilities in Ward and Jamestown.

Install asphalt barriers by driveways to prevent runoff of dirt and gravel onto the main road.

Create paved bicycle pullouts to give cyclists a place to rest and congregate out of the stream of traffic.

Put up signs aimed at both cars and bikes to remind both parties of good etiquette. Signs might remind drivers to share the road or request that cyclists ride single file for a designated distance.

Add more bike racks in Jamestown and pullout for bicycle parking across from the fire station.

Increase patrols by sheriff's deputies on busy weekends and have some of those patrols conducted on bikes.

For more information, visit bouldercounty.org/transportation/CyclistMotoristWorkingGroup.htm.

Only a few cyclists were still cruising around town this week, most navigating the snow-packed roads with beefy mountain bike tires, head-to-toe layers and an apparent predisposition for suffering.

But next spring, when roads are dry and the skies are blue, bikers will likely be back in droves, ready to ride up Boulder County's spectacular canyons.

And when they do, the county hopes to have already implemented a host of recommendations for increasing the safety of the roads for both bike riders and drivers -- and decreasing the tension that's grown between the two.

The plan for the improvements comes from the county's Cyclist-Motorist Working Group, which just released its final recommendations. The group was created by the county's Transportation Department in August to address the increasing tension between the two groups, especially in Lefthand and James canyons.

"The goal was to find things we could do in the short term," said George Gerstle, transportation director. "We wanted to get the ideas out so we could start implementing them before the first bike season."

The working group included cyclists, drivers who frequently commute up and down the canyons, mountain residents who deal with an influx of bikes coming through their small towns in the summer, and representatives from the Sheriff's Office and the Transportation Department.

Gerstle said he wasn't sure how well such a diverse group would work together, but in the end, he was impressed by its success.

"Going into this, I was very nervous about the whole effort," he said. "But I've been very gratified by how well everyone worked together. I could tell there were times when people on all sides of the table were biting their tongues, but they did it out of respect for each other."

The final plan lists about 40 suggested improvements, which cover everything from putting up signs that remind drivers and riders of etiquette, adding restroom facilities, clearing debris off shoulders and paving pullouts where cyclists can congregate and take a break. The plan also has a heavy outreach component, which includes sheriff's deputies handing out fliers and volunteers acting as cycling ambassadors.

Working group member Patrick Griffin -- who is a canyon resident, a frequent driver and a road biker -- said he's excited to see the recommendations implemented, but he also acknowledged it will take more than just the participation of the group members to make the situation better in the canyons.

"The canyon is a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy," he said. "The volunteers in this working group want to improve the situation in the canyons. ... That is really our only motivation, whether we were cyclists, motorists, residents or all three.

"But it will be up to each and every one of us that use the canyons to reduce the tensions."

Gerstle said the county will monitor how well the changes work throughout the 2010 cycling season and call the group back together next fall if there's more work to be done.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Laura Snider at 303-473-1327 or sniderl@dailycamera.com.