colorado dale

bicyclists are getting ticketing for riding in Black hawk

channel 7 did an article covering this

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...96/detail.html

valygrl

Please boycott all blackhawk businesses. We also need to figure out who to write to. Anyone know?

DataJunkie

I would email the city manager.
https://www.cityofblackhawk.org/infor...avPageID=41139
MCopp@CityofBlackHawk.org

twinquad

Good post on Cyclelicious about this, including some contact info. Might also be worth giving a heads-up to Bicycle Colorado - although this has been in force since January, it seems only to have come to light in the past couple days.

Highway 119 is exempt from the ban, so if you're riding through, just keep going. You won't get a ticket, and the locals won't get to sell you a Power Bar.

This town decided to transform itself into a pile of crap 20 years ago; I'm hardly surprised that they've found a new way to distinguish themselves at the bottom. I'm hoping Robert Hurst finds this a fit topic for a rant on his website - that would be entertaining.

DataJunkie

Pile of crap is right. I emailed the city manager thanking them for making it easier for me to decide where not to spend my summer. In truth I detest gambling and have not been there in years.

valygrl

I sent a note to a friend yesterday who is on the board at Bicycle Colorado.

DataJunkie

From Bicycle Colorado on FB:

UPDATE: Dan Grunig is headed up to the Black Hawk City Council meeting to ask them to revoke their bike ban on city streets. We'll post any new information as it comes through. Be ready for an Action Alert late this afternoon if it becomes necessary.

colorado dale

from bicycle colorado Black Hawk's Board of Aldermen is
making it clear that they don't want bicyclists or bicycle
events in town. The Board approved an ordinance banning
bicycle riding on almost every street in Black Hawk

follow link to see how you can help

https://bicyclecolo.org/articles/blac...ban-pg1118.htm

colorado dale

my email is in to town clerk
i said some days i bicycle and some days I gamble (ok i didnt revel the biking to gambling ratio)

i continued to state until bicycle ban is lifted i will spend ZERO gambling and retail dollars in black hawk

it wasnt many yrs ago that bicycling was restricted on central city parkway the town of central city (1 mi from black hawk)
stated their concern was entrance to town ... then the town and bicycle colorado worked out a safe bicycle entrance to town
with black hawk's get lost reaction to working with bicycle colorado I hope others will also pledge (and tell them) spending zero in black hawk

DataJunkie

FB De ja Vu

valygrl

"Like" the facebook boycott, lets get this message to the city to go viral. Invite all your friends to "like" it too.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bicycl...00329136684035

DnvrFox

My guess is that the Aldermen have figured out that bicyclists mostly aren't big money spenders in BH - i.e., how many bicycles do you see locked up outside a casino? Besides, most bicyclists don't smoke, and don't have big bellies, and don't go to BH in a big bus with free drinks. Let's face it- they are not marketing to this crowd.

So, I don't think threatening a boycott of BH is going to do much good.

Maybe FB.

Best is a legal challenge and publicity, IMHO.

But then, I don't care to go to BH any more under any conditions. It is a ruined town, along with its Stepford child, Central City. I remember the good old days - that is for me the 1960's - when it was fun to go to BH (then just a wider street) and Central City.

colorado dale

from velonation

News of the ban is beginning to spread and outrage is the general response. The first question that came to my mind and one that Bicycle Colorado answers was: is the city even allowed to do that?

"The Federal Highways Administration says that public roads should accommodate bicyclists, but they don't withhold funding if their guidance is not followed."

So the real danger here would seem to be the precedent set by this egregious misdirection of the law. Bicycle Colorado is preparing to fight the ban, because "if this ban is not struck down, it opens the door for any other Colorado city to flaunt state stature and ban bicycle access without addressing actual car/bike safety improvements."

fullarticle

https://www.velonation.com/News/ID/44...le-riding.aspx

colorider

Of course that presumes that bicyclists would only go there when riding. You'd think cyclists are a big enough crowd that a town like BH, or any other for that matter, wouldn't want to estrange them as potential customers.

DnvrFox

OK - how many on this forum gamble in BH?

Not I.

colorado dale

Not often but I do gamble. This wk we had out of state guests. The 6 of us agreed Black Hawk would not be visited and chose Central City instead and yes I sent email to BH and let em know.

colorider

I do sometimes as well. Not often but I have visited BH and Central City in the past. I won't be going to BH again anytime soon now.

DoubleTap

Never been there, but have friends in from out of town. They asked today about going gambling, and after I told the story about the bicycle ban, we've made other weekend plans. Making cyclists feel unwelcome will definitely have an impact.

Shifty

I sent a note in protest. A good option for those who want the gaming would be Cripple Creek. It's a nice town and you can take out of town visitors to Garden of the Gods and other attractions in Colorado Springs.

colorado dale

from bicyclecolo.org

June 29- Rally to End Bike Bans!
What: A chance to make your voice heard on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Bulding. The world is watching and we need to show them that Coloradoans won't stand for bike bans!
Who: Bicyclists, families, advocates, and friends of bicycling. More details on speakers to come.
When: Tuesday, June 29th from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. (arrive early to make signs)
Where: The west steps of the Colorado State Capitol
Why: The city of Black Hawk has banned bicycles on nearly every city street. We believe this ban is wrong and sets a dangerous precedent in Colorado.

mje

"The Colorado Supreme Court has overturned Black Hawk's ban on riding bicycles"

https://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...state-interest
https://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...awks-ban-bikes

JanMM

Woo-hoo!