Momentum Newsletter: June 2010

The Momentum newsletter is full of useful information about Multi Modal Transportation and cycling related events taking place in Durango!

Welcome to Momentum: The newsflash from the City of Durango details current news and events in regards to Multi Modal Transportation!
If you would like more information on any topic please contact Amber Blake, the City’s Multi Modal Coordinator, at 375-4949 or [email protected]

Recent Happenings
Clean Commute Week – Bike to Work Day
June 19 – 26 is Clean Commute Week. Bike to Work – Clean Commute Day is June 23rd. There will be 3 locations (Buckley Park, The Transit Center, and  Dig’s at 3 Springs) where you can have a cup of coffee, a light snack, win a raffle prize and pick up your t-shirt.   Register now to be eligible for prizes, a t-shirt, incentives and more!!

Try a new way of commuting, walk, carpool, bike or take transit this week!  Transit will be free all week sponsored by: Mercy Regional Medical Center, The City of Durango – Parking Division, Zia Taqueria, First United Methodist Thrift Store, Healthy Lifestyle La Plata, Bicycle Friendly Durango, and Mercury Payment Systems!!!

See www.getarounddurango.com/clean-commute-week for detailed information the weeks events and incentives.

The Trails 2000 Commuter Challenge
As part of Clean Commute Week the annual Trails 2000 Commuter Challenge will take place June 21-23.  Motivate your fellow employees to compete against companies of similar size for the coveted title of Commuter Challenge Winner!  To participate each company needs to register on the Trails 2000 website at http://www.trails2000.org/site/commuter_challenge.html.  Questions regarding the Challenge can be directed to Mary Monroe at [email protected].
GOOD LUCK!!!

Multi Modal Ambassador
We would like to welcome the newest edition to the Multi Modal Division, Kristofer Pleszewiczis.  We have hired Kristofer as an AmeriCorps Volunteer to serve as our Multi Modal Ambassador.  He is responsible for supporting Multi Modal Program with outreach and education, and Clean Commute Week activities and events. The primary function of of the Multi Modal Ambassador is to provide education and outreach to the community regarding the Multi Modal Program, clean commuting methods, safe routes to school and transportation safety. He will encourage commuters to ride/walk/bike more often and more safely, he will attend community events to teach rules of the road, trail etiquette, and answer questions about public transportation.  If you would like the Multi Modal Ambassador to come present to your group or if you’d like to learn more about the Multi Modal Program or Clean Commute Week please email Kristofer at [email protected].

Florida Road Reconstruction Project
The project is currently on schedule.  Cyclists please remember you are vehicles and are required to ride with the flow of traffic.  Officers will be ticketing cyclists riding against traffic.  This is for everyone’s safety!  For more information on the project visit the website: www.durangogov.org/ongoing/FloridaRoad.cfm

Multi Modal Master Plan Update
The Multi Modal Master Plan is underway; we are currently collecting public input. If you would like to: comment on the existing conditions of the transit, bicycle and pedestrian network in your neighborhood, give input as to how you would like to see the network  function in the future, or make us aware of any issues, please fill out a comment form on our website www.getarounddurango.com. If there are topics you would like to discuss, please call Amber Blake at 375-4949 to set up an appointment.

In the News

Liability Aspects of Bikeways-
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_lrd_53.pdf (NCHRP/FHWA/MDOT)

Biking Directions added to Google Maps-
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/biking-directions-added-to-google-maps.html (Google Blog)

CDC offers recommendations for including Public Health in Transportation Policy-
http://www.cdc.gov/transportation/default.htm (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

On street bike parking in Durango –
http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/05/26/Cyclists_14_parking_1/ (Durango Herald)

Cycling lane upgrades to hit Durango –
http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/05/01/Cycling_lane_upgrades_to_hit_Durango/ (Durango Herald)

Upcoming Events


Race Across America & Race Accross the West
Durango has been selected as the finish line for the 860-mile Race Across the West, and as a check point for the 3000-mile Race Across America bike race. The races will begin June 8th in Oceanside, CA. For more information please see the website: www.raceacrossamerica.org.

Ride the Rockies
It’s the 25th Anniversary of the event, and Durango will once again be on the Ride the Rockies route! The riders will be coming to Durango from Ouray on June 16th.  Be ready for some action for more information about the event visit the website:  http://www.ridetherockies.com

Clean Commute Week!  (Bike to work Week)
The last full week of June 2010 will be sponsors’s 1st annual Clean Commute Week.
Wednesday June 23rd will be Clean Commute Day – Bike to Work Day.  Register NOW.  This year there will be 3 ‘Pit Stops’ where you can pick up your t-shirt, have a free cup of coffee and socialize with other ‘clean commuters’.
The Pit Stops will be located at: [email protected].
A HUGE Thank you to our extremely generous sponors for this week of events:

2nd Avenue Sports,  Active.com, Albertsons, Animas Cycles, Anytime Fitness, Bicycle Friendly Durango, Bicycle Lemonade, Bread, Bouré Sports, Buzztown.com, Cairo Café, Carver Brewing Co., City of Durango, City Market, Coca Cola of Durango, Cocina Linda, Core Value Fitness, Cosmopolitan, Dig’s Market, Desert Sun Coffee, Durango DEVO, Durango Coffee Co., Durango Cyclery, Durango Doughworks, Durango Wheel Club, First United Methodist Thrift Store, Fox Fire Farm, Hassle Free Sports, Healthy Lifestyle La Plata, Homeslice, The Hub, Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, Jitters Java, Magpie’s, Maria’s Bookshop, Mercury Payment Systems, Mercy Regional Medical Center, Mountain Bike Specialists, Papa Wheelies, Raider Ridge Café, SKA Brewing Co., Star Liquor, Steaming Bean, Stonehouse Subs, Trails 2000, Upper East Side Deli, Zia Taqueria, Zukes
Please contact Amber Blake for more information at 375-4949