Lafayette promotes cycling, pedestrian thoroughfares
In January 2014, the city of Lafayette received a Walk and Wheel grant from Kaiser Permanente Colorado to identify and promote safer walking and biking routes in our community. This funding is providing the opportunity to consider, plan for, and encourage safer, healthier and more accessible ways for residents to travel throughout the community by bike or on foot.
Lafayette has lots of residents who are interested in healthy lifestyles, and this is just another way of promoting a healthy, safe environment for both pedestrians and cyclists.
The city will create an active transportation map to illustrate routes throughout the city to get residents from point A to point B in a safe manner or a more direct route. The map will not only help guide people through town but it will also be an information piece that shows people the fastest and safest route to get across town.
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Grant tangibles
• An active transportation map to educate and guide users on low-stress routes using existing infrastructure.
• Develop wayfinding signage for bike/pedestrian infrastructure and routes.
• Set priorities for needs and future projects.
• Installation of bike lanes on two connector routes to provide low-stress bike access.
• Baseline data collection.
• Identify needs/opportunities through community engagement.
• Convert data to a geographic information system for cross departmental use.
• Complete a trail connection along the Coal Creek regional trail.
• Sidewalk completion project along South Public Road near new development.
• Trail connection through Boulder Valley School District property to U.S. Highway 287 pedestrian bridge.
One of the grant deliverables was the creation of an active transportation map which will identify safer and supported pedestrian/bike routes. These designated routes include a “loop” that encompasses the circumference of the city, and additional “connector” routes which provide a comprehensive network.
Since 2014, the city has organized volunteer teams with a mobile app or printed checklist of potential problem areas on which to take notes. Residents walked designated routes throughout Lafayette and responded with feedback on the condition and safety of sidewalks, trails and intersections, while also counting the number of pedestrians and cyclists they encountered on their routes.
The city also enlisted the help of Boulder County Public Health youth corps members and the county transportation department to get more scientific pedestrian and cyclist counts.
And now, the Walk & Wheel Community Launch is set to happen on Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m. to noon in the Flatirons Church, north parking lot off of Waneka Parkway. The event will feature a bike rodeo, educational and safety tips, bike and helmet inspections, free hot dogs, kids’ activities, prize drawings and more. For more information, go to the city of Lafayette website at www.cityoflafayette.com/WalkAndWheel .
Vicki Trumbo is executive director of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 303-666-9555 or via email at info@lafayettecolorado.com.
