Boulder County Mountain Canyon - Cyclist - Motorist Working Group
Boulder County cyclists and motorists seek to increase safety on mountain roads
The Boulder County Transportation Department and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office have organized a group of cyclists, motorists and mountain community residents to help identify steps for making mountain roads safer for all.
An increase in cycling along the narrow and winding mountain canyon roads has caused tension between cyclists, motorists and mountain community residents. Some mountain residents and others who use the roads are frustrated by cyclists, while some cyclists feel unwelcome or unsafe on the curvy mountain roads. The Boulder County Canyon Cyclist-Motorist Working Group’s charge is to come up with ideas to address these concerns. The Working Group met for the first time on Thursday, August 6, to begin to identify ways to enhance cooperation and improve safety on the narrow, curvy and heavily trafficked Boulder-area canyon roads. The Working Group is comprised of community and cycling representatives who were identified by the County Transportation and Sheriff’s Offices and by the interest groups themselves. The discussions are being led by a professional facilitator with experience from both perspectives - Jonathan Bartsch is both a mountain resident and a recreational cyclist, as are some Working Group members. At the August 6 meeting, George Gerstle, County Transportation Director, asked the Working Group to identify problem areas and possible solutions to reduce what he referred to as the ‘seasonal cycle of conflict’ when each spring, as the weather gets warmer, both the number of cyclists and tension increase. Working Group participants discussed issues and concerns, using aerial maps to highlight specific areas in the mountain canyons - including Lefthand, Lee Hill, Old Stage and James Canyons.
Preliminary approaches that were discussed include physical improvements to the roads, facilities for cyclists, developing communication strategies that promote respect and a shared responsibility by both drivers and cyclists, and ways to improve mountain community/cycling relationships. The Working Group will continue to meet over the summer with a goal of providing specific recommendations before the end of this riding season.
For additional information, contact George Gerstle, Boulder County Transportation Director at 303-441-3955.
|
