Bicycle Friendly Community

Durango, CO | Gold Level

Recent bicycling investment: Durango recently invested in the reconstruction of its primary aterial road. Prior to reconstruction Florida was a two lane road with a center turn lane. Upon completion of the project, the entire length of the road has 6 ft. concrete bike lanes with drop inlet drainage, a 10 ft. separated multi-use path, and traffic calming treatments such as a roundabout and bulb outs. The City also partnered with local businesses to implement an on-street bicycle parking program in its central business district.

Bicycling highlights: Durango had a wheelclub in the 1800s - today it hosts one of the longest running road rides in the US; one of the most successful non profits in the trail community; and more Olympians per capita than any other city. The town has been recognitzed in national and international media as a top cycling destination (including Outside magazine).
Durango's Bicycle Friendly Community work group was able to encourage the City to hire a multi-modal coordinator to lead many of the efforts and interactions between the City, Police and other groups.
Durango is a pull-yourself-up by the bootstraps real town. Durango is in the business of a Bicycle Friendly Community for the long haul. It has buy-in from city governments, businesses, non profits and residents to continue to improve the town as a model for other small towns to emulate.

Percentage of arterial streets with dedicated bicycle facilities: 50%

Bicycling education in 90% elementary schools and 100% middle schools

Signature cycling events: Start of the US Pro Cycling Challenge 2012; Ironhorse Bicycle Classic; chidren's criterium; DEVO youth training series for kids 6-18; Tour de Farms; Fall Blaze; National MTB collegiate championships; the Big Gulch; Single speed World Championships; Ride the Rockies; Tour of Colorado; the Peace Ride; finish of the Race Across the West.

Some coming bicycling improvements: Durango is planning an expansion of the Bicycling Parking Program and and development of a bicycle parking policy. The City is further planning to adopt a Multi Modal Master Plan which will improve multi-directional and multi-modal connectivity and establish best practices for future infrastructure development/improvements.