In the wake of a 40-year high in pedestrian deaths across the country, local groups in Wheat Ridge are taking proactive measures to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety. A Wheat Ridge coalition is one of four Colorado communities selected by the Safe Routes Partnership for its Safe Routes to Parks Colorado Activating Communities program, designed to improve safe and equitable local park access.
During this nine-month program, Safe Routes Partnership will work with local non-profit, Bike Jeffco, the Wheat Ridge Active Transportation Advisory Team, and the City of Wheat Ridge, to provide technical assistance and analysis that will lead to recommendations aimed to improve pedestrian travel to local parks and green spaces.
Following the analysis, the Safe Routes Partnership awarded Bike Jeffco $10,000 to implement an initial recommendation in the plan. There is great support among residents for improvement in bicycle and pedestrian access and safety, traffic and speeding, and public safety. This past November Wheat Ridge voters approved a ballot initiative with 70 percent in support of funding sidewalk connectivity and bike lanes.
"Wheat Ridge values healthy, active lifestyles for everyone. This grant allows us to engage with our community to understand and prioritize investments needed for kids and adults alike to safely walk or ride a bike to our outstanding parks and trails," said Wheat Ridge Council Member Rachel Hultin.
Bike Jeffco applied for this program as an opportunity to work collaboratively with community residents, the Wheat Ridge Active Transportation Advisory Team, and the City of Wheat Ridge to develop an action plan that could be used to launch Wheat Ridge’s investment into active transportation infrastructure.
About the City of Wheat Ridge
The City of Wheat Ridge offers a mix of retail/commercial businesses and unique residential neighborhoods with easy access to the Denver metropolitan area. The community of nine square miles is located immediately west of Denver with a population of 33,000 residents. This home rule city was incorporated in 1969, however, its rich heritage extends back to the 1800s.
About the Safe Routes Partnership
Safe Routes to Parks initiatives work to improve safety and security for people walking, bicycling, and rolling to parks and green spaces. This need is especially pronounced in neighborhoods and communities lacking infrastructure to support safe walking and bicycling, where violence and crime are prevalent, and where high rates of weight-related chronic disease are prevalent.
The Safe Routes to Parks Colorado Activating Communities program aims to remove barriers that make it challenging for people to enjoy the physical, social, and mental health benefits that parks offer, and proactively work toward ensuring safe, secure access to parks and open spaces. This program is supported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Colorado Department of Transportation as they work to advance park access throughout the state to increase park usage and improve health for all Coloradans.
For more information, please visit saferoutespartnership.org.
About Bike Jeffco Inc.
Bike Jeffco’s mission is to facilitate and promote enjoyable, safe, accessible cycling. Core missions include promoting better infrastructure for cyclists, community interaction through cycling, bicycle education to influence safer, responsible behavior, support of legislation that benefits cyclists and pedestrians, and expanding trail/path access.
About the Wheat Ridge Active Transportation Advisory Team (ATATs)
The ATATs are a citizen-led organization that works with residents, city leadership, businesses and partner organizations to increase opportunities to walk, to ride a bike and to connect with transit in Wheat Ridge.