Bicyclists Hit Colorado State Capitol
Dozens of bicyclists rode to the state Capitol Tuesday at a rally hosted by Bicycle Colorado to protest Black Hawk's ban on bicycling through most of the town's roads, the only such ban in the state. The roads in Black Hawk's historic mining district are narrow and shoulderless. According to Black Hawk city officials, during summer months 30,000 motorists use its roads each day.
Black Hawk's Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance banning bicycle riding on almost every street in Black Hawk. This includes the only paved street, Gregory Street, which connects the Peak to Peak Highway with the Central City Parkway. After town officials issued warnings to cyclists, three bicyclists who rode their bikes in June from Central City into Black Hawk became the first to be fined $68 each by police. Since then, the mountain town's bike ban has gained national attention from bike enthusiasts.
Bicyclists use the road in Black Hawk to connect to the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, a popular mountain road, but the ban forces them to walk their bikes one-half mile through town or make a 46-mile detour around the area by using Berthoud Pass.
Black Hawk would need approval for changes on a state highway but Gregory Street is no longer a state highway. Bicycle Colorado confirmed with the Colorado Department of Transportation that Gregory Street was previously State Highway 279 but was formally abandoned by CDOT about ten years ago. Since that time Black Hawk adopted it as a local street.
The Federal Highways Administration says that public roads should accommodate bicyclists but they don't withhold funding if their guidance is not followed.