The small gambling town of Black Hawk, Colorado, recently imposed a ban on cyclists pedaling through the town–and began fining riders $68 for doing so. In reaction, around 100 cyclists gathered on the steps of City Hall this Tuesday to protest the ban. The rally was organized by Bicycle Colorado and state senators Chris Romer and Greg Brophy, cyclists themselves, spoke out about their support of bicycling.
Although the ban was set in place due to safety concerns, local cyclists are enraged and working hard to overturn what they think is a ridiculous rule. According to Bicycle Retailer, “Bicycle Colorado is putting pressure on the Board of Alderman to overturn the ban and plans to attend a July 14 meeting to present signed petitions. It’s also put several ticketed cyclists in touch with law firms that are taking the cases on pro bono and fighting the validity of the law. The first court date is set for mid-August.”
[Via: Bicycle Retailer]
[Photo Via: Bicycle Retailer]
The ban is quite frivolous, the safety aspect is made up from a perceived issue that doesn’t exist ( no issues with bikes have happend). It’s a ~1/4mi section of the only paved road in town and several of the dirt roads, effectively making it impossible to ride through town. The ironic part is to be legal, one now has to walk their bike through town with non existent sidewalks. What seems a bigger safety issue? A bike being ridden for 1/4mi or cyclist walking in road pushing bike. Typical traffic speed in town is 15 to 20mph.
They need sharrows! It works in a town with millions of crazy drivers, it should work in Black Hawk. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/04/local/la-me-sharrows-20100704
We have sharrows all over Denver and in other area cities. Thanks, Wend, and community, for covering our local issue! It’s another legal test piece for the co-existence of wheels – on either side of the white line. We are lucky in our state to have such great bipartisan support for cycling too!