Sustainability Spotlight - June 2021 - Bicycle Facilities in Wheat Ridge
By: Danny Terlip, Sustainable Wheat Ridge member
Bicycling has been a key element of human transportation for hundreds of years. Today 12% of Americans cycle regularly, a number that has increased by 3 million people from 2017 to 2020. Cycling has many benefits including improved cardiovascular health, stress reduction, pollution reduction and traffic reduction. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know people in our community and experience new places. Sustainable Wheat Ridge is excited to highlight all that Wheat Ridge has to offer for two wheeled enthusiasts in this month’s Sustainability Spotlight.
Many of us are familiar with the exciting race in the French mountains – The Tour de France – but have you heard of the equally exciting Wheat Ridge Criterium in our own backyards? The event, scheduled for 21 September and includes a professional bike race through Wheat Ridge, a brew fest and a kids’ zone. You can catch the cyclist speeding down 35th, 38th, Teller and Pierce all day. More information can be found at http://ridgeat38.com/criterium.
The best way to get to the “Crit” is to bike there, of course! Wheat Ridge has safe and convenient options for bicycling through town. The City has undertaken a study to keep Wheat Ridge accessible to all modes of transportation called the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. It contains recommendations for improvements and prioritizes areas of Wheat Ridge for improvements.
Maps in the Master Plan describe the best routes for bicycling through Wheat Ridge. When traveling East/West, Wheat Ridge offers three solid options. The best is the Clear Creek Trail running along the North side of town. This 20 mile trail runs from Golden, through Wheat Ridge and connects with other trails into Thorton, Denver, Arvada and Westminster. It is best for immersion in nature and for those wishing to avoid automotive traffic. For traveling through town, 32nd St and 26th St have bicycle lanes on both sides of the street traversing the entirety of Wheat Ridge.
Pierce Street is an excellent North/South route with wide on-street and off-street bike lanes through the entirety of Wheat Ridge, starting at I-70 and continuing through Lakewood. When traveling Pierce St, don’t forget to stop at the Ridge at 38th for a beverage, new vinyl record and a bite to eat. Sustainable Wheat Ridge and the City of Wheat Ridge have acquired and installed new bike racks on 38th Street to give cyclist secure options for locking their bikes up in the area.
With the G Line fully operational now, there are many new opportunities for multi-modal transportation around Wheat Ridge and the surrounding cities. As many of us are looking for COVID friendly activities with friends and families, cycling stands as a clear option for your health, the city’s health and the planet’s health.
June Sustainability Updates
- The City of Wheat Ridge is accepting new neighborhood applications for the Sustainable Neighborhoods program! If you are interested in the program and would like to learn more, an open house event is scheduled for Tuesday, July 27 at 6:30 P.M. at the Wheat Ridge City Hall City Council Chambers. The City will be accepting applications for the program until Monday, August 30, 2021. To find out more about the program and the application, click here.
- The City is participating in Fresh Food Connect again this growing season to partner local growers with those in need of food assistance. Residents can download the Fresh Food Connect app on their phones to donate their excess produce to Family Tree - which provides the fresh food to those in our community experiencing homelessness.
More about Sustainable Wheat Ridge
Sustainable Wheat Ridge is a resident-led committee that was established in 2018 to provide the city with recommendations to enhance the environmental sustainability of Wheat Ridge. Included in these recommendations are goals around preserving Wheat Ridge’s agricultural history, connecting local producers and consumers, and establishing partnerships to support local food production. Check out the full Sustainable Wheat Ridge action plan here!
