Proposal to the Transportation Board to Reconvene a Bicycle Focus Group in Fort Collins

Since visiting with you on May 18 I've made public comments and asked questions about the Fort Collins bicycle program and I've received feedback from the following boards or groups:

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - Air Quality Advisory Board Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - Parks and Recreation Board

Thursday, May 26, 2005 - EVSAG ( the Fort Collins Economic Vitality and Sustainability Action Group)

Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - Natural Resources Board

Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - City Council

Wednesday, June 8, 2005 - Senior Advisory Board

Thursday, June 9, 2005 - Second Fort Collins "Bike Town" Meeting

Monday, June 13, 2005 - Follow up Bike Town organizational meeting to discuss a structure for the North Front Range Bicycle Coalition which is just forming

I'd like to share with you some further ideas about how the Transportation Board might solicit input on the future of bicycling in Fort Collins. I think this is important given the following critical issues:

1) the current budget process going on in the City

2) the impending Federal highway funding legislation

3) the frozen Bike/Pedestrian Coordinator's position in the City which has resulted in a much reduced Bike Month and the effective elimination of the 1995 Bicycle Program Plan implementation

4) Interest in reviving the Mason St. Transportation corridor

5) Increased concern about, economic growth, jobs in Fort Collins, traffic congestion, and quality of life.

I think that the Transportation Board should either recommend to Council or that the board itself should reconvene a Bicycle Focus group just as it did in 1995 to revise and rethink implementation of the Bicycle Program Plan for the City.

I know that:

1) The Bike Program Plan is in the proposed budget before Council.

2) That the Transportation Master Plan (updated in March 2004) includes most elements of the bike Program proposed in 1995

However, I also know that the economic climate in the region requires us to innovate, and to be as creative as we can if we intend to maintain the quality of life in Fort Collins and balance transportation, job growth, and economic development.

A Bicycle Focus group that includes representatives from EVSAG (Economic Vitality and Sustainability Action Group), from the local business community, and from the newly forming North Front Range Bicycle Coalition would help City staff and Council to think through some of the difficult issues in reviving the bike program.

For example:

1) The bike program plan was composed initially of facilities construction followed by a program of education and encouragement. This second part was limited to Smart Trips marketing activities. It needs to be moved out of there and into a more pro-active department where public education and encouragement can be promoted more aggressively.

2) Volunteer opportunities should be developed to move the Bike Program along and to get it into the public arena more:

 bike month could be organized with volunteer help (see Imaginary June 2006 Bike Month Program attached)

 Bike Rangers (perhaps similar to the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers) could help with public outreach

 The Senior Advisory Board told me they don't offer bike rides on our trail system for seniors because they can't afford it?! I'm not sure what cost they refer to but volunteers could likely resolve that.

 Certainly there are more volunteer opportunities.

The bicycle focus group could further help with:

3) Public Relations: See the attached "Whom to Contact at City Hall" with bike related issues; there was no document available to advise cyclists whom to call resulting in considerable frustration among cyclists who had the impression that the city simply doesn’t' care, so I put one together.

4) Finally, a bicycle focus group would help mobilize the bike community to publicize bicycling opportunities and the active life style available in Fort Collins to cyclists across the country: to get the word out that Fort Collins is a great place to live or to locate a business!

A month ago the League of American Bicyclists renewed the Silver Medal award for Fort Collins as a bicycle friendly community. We are one of seven of the best bicycle communities in the nation. Why hasn't the City's PR arm bragged about this to the press? To the community? To anyone? Are we embarrassed by it? Have we decided we don't want this award any more? Or has it just fallen between the cracks along with the Fort Collins Bicycle Program Plan.

Thank you.