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REPORTER: "Black Hawk is the only town in Colorado to ban people from riding bicycles on any street in town."
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CYCLING CLUB MEMBER: "It's kind of sad. I mean, it really is. Colorado is one of the top cycling states in the country." (KCNC)
The bicycling ban was passed unanimously in January 2010, but not until June did the city of Black Hawk start enforcing it, fining bicyclists $68 for riding through town. Black Hawk is the only town in the country to ban bicycling.
We're looking at coverage on the ban from Denver's KCNC, KMGH, KUSA, Alibi and Bike Portland.
On Denver's KMGH, Sen. Chris Romer denounces the ban and says he is considering legal action to overturn it.
"Why would we want to have the only city in America to ban bicycling through the entire town? You can regulate us, you can work with us, you can tell us what speeds we can go safely through town, but you cannot ban us, and if you try, we will sue you."
A blogger for Alibi agrees and thinks — quote, an outright ban is backward thinking.
"Worried about safety, lower the speed limit, put up 'share the road' signs, offer bicyclists alternative routes. ... there are tons of ways to let everyone win."
...including gamblers, according to one blogger from Bike Portland. Jonathan Maus argues protecting bicyclists isn't Black Hawk's top priority, rather the city wants to ensure nothing interferes with the buses that shuttle in gamblers who bring the town much of its revenue.
"The impetus behind the ban is a feeling by Black Hawk's leaders that bike traffic simply gets in the way of its casino clientele — a clientele that has skyrocketed in numbers after a recent increase in the town's betting limits."
But city manager Mike Copp tells Denver's KUSA the ban is about safety, and that he hasn't received complaints from citizens.
"We have not had a citizen come to us and say, my kid or I feel hampered by this, I cannot ride my bike."
So, do you think the ban is too harsh? Should other towns ban bicycling if it poses a safety threat?
