Bicycle Friendly Community

Steamboat Springs, CO | Gold Level

Community Highlights: This well-known ski town is also growing in fame as a bike town. Steamboat Springs dedication to becoming an even greater place for cyclists is demonstrated in the adoption of the Action Plan for Bicycle Friendly Communities which ensures that, "all city policies, plans, codes, and programs are updated and implemented to take advantage of every opportunity to create a more bicycle-friendly community." As a community Steamboat is recognizing that cycling is not only a benefit to health and transportation, but it can also be an economic driver. Well established as a world class winter resort, the town has the hotel and services in place to expand to become a leading summer destination. The unique location surrounded by vast trail networks in public lands as well as low volume county roads make the town a great candidate to increase not just resident but also visitor cycling. The grass-roots economic study and presentations to businesses and government leaders is starting this transition from Ski Town USA to Bike Town USA.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: Rather than one large investment, the fiscally conservative and budget constrained community created a big impact with many smaller investments. The fact that in these tight times any funding was prioritized on cycling is very significant. The main projects from City, County, and businesses included a Complete Streets Ordinance with a Multi-Mode master plan, additional bike lanes and routes, new trail connections, additional lift-served bike trails, expansion of bike service businesses, Phase I of the way-finding program, the first annual bike summit, a safe routes to school map, the county's first bike guide, and sponsorship of the USA PCC Cycling tour.

Best Result of Designation: A grass roots group, the Bike Town USA Initiative formed in response to the initial Bike Friendly Community award, and extending the award will keep their impetus to improve and expand cycling in Steamboat. Being able to reference the award was an important tool to achieve community and government buy-in to expanding cycling. Over the past five years this group pulled together leaders in the community to focus them on cycling and great things happened as outlined in the application including: new infrastructure, new policies, expanded funding, safety and education, and increased interest in recreational and commuter cycling. The group is currently working on an updated community cycling plan that prioritizes improvements and identifies funding and opportunities for the future.