Basalt Aims for Designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community
In 2024 the Basalt Green Team will be pursuing a Bicycle Friendly Community designation, emphasizing Basalt’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions associated with motor vehicles and providing greater safety and connectivity for cycling options between east and west Basalt and beyond.
What is a Bicycle Friendly Community?
Bicycle Friendly Community is a designation by the League of American Bicyclists - a grassroots organization that supports the creation of safer roads, stronger communities, and a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.
Achieving a Bicycle Friendly Community designation depends on the degree to which a community can respond to essential elements within five categories, known as the “5 E’s”, including Equity & Accessibility, Engineering, Education, Encouragement, and Evaluation & Planning. The 5 E’s have been identified as the variables that are essential for making great cycling communities. Applicants may receive a bronze, silver or gold designation, although the League cautions that it is rare for a community to achieve any designation on its first attempt.
There are currently 21 municipalities throughout Colorado that are designated as Bicycle Friendly Communities, including the Roaring Fork Valley neighboring communities of Aspen (Gold), Carbondale (Gold), and Glenwood Springs (Silver).
Why is a Bicycle Friendly Community designation important?
Cycling decreases motor vehicle congestion and associated air and ground pollution while enhancing a user’s physical and mental health. Communities that actively support cycling are more vibrant destinations for visitors and residents alike.
Cycling is more commonplace in communities that invest in the infrastructure to support connectivity and safety, with ample wayfinding signage. These are vital elements within the Bicycle Friendly Community application and are also supported by the 2020 Basalt Master Plan.
Achieving a Bicycle Friendly Community designation signals to the world that Basalt not only supports but elevates cycling as an alternative form of transportation.
Next Steps
The Bicycle Friendly Community application provides an overview for Basalt to achieving its goals in the areas of alternative transportation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, enhanced connectivity, safety and accessibility.
Staff and the Basalt Green Team are reviewing the 2024 application to assess the improvements that will need to be made in order to achieve a Bicycle Friendly Community designation, with sites set on the next application deadline of June 25, 2024.