Durango Wheel Club » Advocacy

Planning Commission Dumps Comp Plan

Spencer — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:47:17 +0000

Recently the La Plata County Planning Commission voted unanimously to stop the process for adopting a Comprehensive Plan for La Plata county. This development has the potential to disrupt any effort to move La Plata county towards having a transportation system that includes the use of alternative methods of transportation, including bicycles. Future building, land use, and transportation regulations will now be developed without the consideration of a visionary statement reflecting the views of the citizens of the county, which includes the cities of Bayfield, Ignacio and Durango.

I’m not sure how this will effect future plans for bike-friendly road improvements other than to say it can’t be good. It seems that if we want to see a truly bicycle friendly Durango, Durango needs to be in a bicycle friendly county. Something to keep in mind the next time we vote for members of the Board of County Commissioners.

An apology from a Durango motorist!

Spencer — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:39:28 +0000

Read this unprecedented note from an apologetic motorist! Pretty cool! If you were the cyclist who got buzzed on Sunday headed to Skyridge, send me an email and I’ll put you in touch with this person! — Spencer

Message received 1/9/2012:

To the guy in Wheel Club Jersey who I got way too close to last night
coming into Skyridge: I’m also a rider and like to think that I follow
the rules and have respect. I thought I could pass but underestimated
the size of new vehicle and realized too late that there was not much
room. I should have waited for the road to open up and I apologize for
the situation. You were right to call me an ass – on that occasion I
was. I’ll be more careful!

Great Info on the CHP Site!

Spencer — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:31:06 +0000

Lots of good info on the Church of the High Pines site!

Check it out: http://churchofthehighpines.blogspot.com/

Action Needed! Petition to Keep Roads in National Parks Open to Cyclists!

Spencer — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:50:52 +0000

TELL THE SENATE THAT BIKES HAVE A RIGHT TO THE ROAD! CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION: http://www.bikeleague.org/petition/

The draft of the Senate’s transportation authorization bill, S. 1813 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, includes language that would introduce a mandatory sidepath law on roads in our National Parks and other Federal lands. It requires cyclists on Federal lands to use a path or trail, instead of roads, if the speed limit is over 30 MPH and a trail exists within 100 yards, regardless of its condition or utility of the path. The provision sets a terrible precedent. Passing it would send the wrong message to transportation agencies that these policies are acceptable. Laws like this have been taken off the books in states over the past 30 years. This takes us in the wrong direction.

For more information, read Andy Clarke’s blog post found on the petition page: http://www.bikeleague.org/petition/

The League is working on many other aspects of the transportation reauthorization bill. This petition relates specifically to the mandatory sidepath law, which we felt deserved special attention. Stay tuned for news and action alerts related to this and other aspects of this critical legislation.

Please join us in telling the Senate that the mandatory sidepath law is a bad idea -

Dear Senators,

We ask you to remove the mandatory sidepath language (Section § 203 (d)) from the transportation authorization bill, S. 1813 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The law unfairly and unreasonably restricts cycling at a time when we should be encouraging bicycling for transportation, health, recreation, air quality and a host of other reasons.

Signed,

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION: http://www.bikeleague.org/petition/

Idaho Stop Law: Why it is a good thing!

Spencer — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:59:53 +0000

Simply put, the Idaho Stop Law allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. It is called the Idaho Stop Law because it has been in effect in Idaho since 1982. Take a few minutes to look at this well made video about why the Idaho Stop Law might be good for us too! http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/14/get-an-animated-lesson-in-bikes-stop-signs-and-the-idaho-stop-law-17161

Bikes Fly Free on Frontier Air!

Spencer — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 03:02:32 +0000

It’s true! Local carrier Frontier Airlines is the first airline to do away with gouging cyclists! http://carolinacyclingnews.com/2011/04/13/bikes-get-upgraded-on-frontier-airlines/

Report Road Damage in La Plata County with SeeClickFix!

Spencer — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:48:56 +0000

Have you seen a county road that needs repair? There is a new service provided by La Plata County called SeeClickFix!

From our county manager Shawn Nau: “While it is designed to help everyone, one of our primary motivations is to help the cycling community report issues. The mobile apps (iPhone and Droid) are proving very helpful because people can gps-tag the exact location of the issue.”

Check it out by going to this website: http://www.co.laplata.co.us/seeclickfix

Don’t Park in Bike Lanes… In Lithuania!

Spencer — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 19:28:22 +0000

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/video-mayor-drives-over-merc-in-tank-to-clear-bike-lanes-2837507.html

Tis the Season to bike friendly!

Spencer — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:36:23 +0000

It is that time of year when the roads start to fill up with cyclists. And, while it makes many of us grin, there are still a lot of cyclists and motorists who get on the road and become self-centered and aggressive. The majority of cyclists are very good about sharing the road and obeying the law. However there are some who lose their temper when provoked and others who consistently break the law by disobeying traffic laws. As members of the DWC I ask you all to be proactive this year and try to ride in a friendly and lawful manner. Please respect our traffic laws and take the high road when confronted by a motorist!

7/23 KSUT Party at Ska to Benefit Safe Roads Coalition!

Spencer — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:51:29 +0000

TODAY, July 23, from 2 – 9 PM KSUT will be celebrating their 35th anniversary with music, food and beer! Proceeds will go to the Safe Roads Coalition! Check out the flier below for all the info!