Posted on 03/24/2020 10:13:08 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Supporter,
Bike shops are open for business.
Yesterday, Denver and Boulder issued orders asking all residents to stay at home unless performing essential activities. The orders include bike shops as an essential business that can stay open to provide support for Coloradans and visitors during the COVID-19 outbreak, and encourage bicycling as a form of outdoor activity.
You can read Denver's full announcement here, and Boulder's here. Denver's announcement did not originally include bike shops as essential businesses, but was amended last night to do so.
As two of Colorado's most populous cities, we are optimistic Denver and Boulder's stay-at-home orders are the standard other communities around the state will follow should they issue similar orders in the days and weeks to come.
More and more, Coloradans are depending on their bikes to get around, to exercise, to take care of their mental health and to boost their immune systems. They also rely on bike shops to keep their tool for recreation, transportation and health in working order.
These announcements underscore the importance of bicycling during this time of crisis, and we’re proud Denver and Boulder have taken the lead in including bike shops in its list of essential businesses.
We’re also proud to have been a part of making this happen. Over the past several days, the Bicycle Colorado Policy Team has been hard at work discussing the importance of bicycling remaining an encouraged activity and bike shops remaining open with state and local policymakers.
We know that:
Bicycling is compatible with social distancing, and is an incredibly low-risk form of transportation and recreation with regard to virus infection.
Bicycling is an activity that offers both physical and mental health benefits—important in times like these.
Bicycling is an essential mode of transportation.
Bicycles may offer approved business, health and governmental functions with resilient solutions to transport or deliver necessary goods.
Many people depend on bikes as their only means of getting around.
We’ve taken these points directly to policymakers in Denver, Boulder, the Governor’s Office, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, the Colorado Department and Transportation, the Colorado Energy Office and to local officials in Colorado cities and counties across the state. We’re proud that this work has paid off in two communities, and optimistic others will follow should the need for any stay-at-home order arise.
At Bicycle Colorado, we envision a Colorado where riding a bicycle is always safe and convenient for everyone, where bicycling is the top choice for recreation and everyday trips, and where the benefits of bicycling are experienced and valued by all people in our state. There is no more important time than during the COVID-19 outbreak to fight to make this vision a reality, which is why we’ll continue working tirelessly for you. If you want to help make it possible, please join or renew as a member today.
Thanks for your support,
Piep van Heuven,
Policy Director
Jack Todd,
Senior Communications and Policy Manager
Molly McKinley,
Grassroots Advocacy Manager
and the entire Bicycle Colorado staff
At what point do the “essential” workers start protecting themselves and their family? They are being told how awful this epidemic is then in the same breath they are being told they are essential and need go to work for extended periods for multiple weeks and in most cases, not a lot of money. I’m not talking bike mechanics, I’m talking food and medicine supply chain people.
Basically they are being told, your essential so work extra hard and risk your health, so people can hoard toilet paper and watch Oprah. Just a matter of time.
I’ve been to Colorado, and all I can say is stay inside? In Colorado!? That s***’s not going to happen!
Coloradans love their outside!
All the essentials...
The leftists love this. They can pick and choose which businesses can stay open and which have to close.
This love this power.
Yep. Past is prologue. Dems now know what they can get away with in the future.
This is an actual email I got from Bicycle Colorado.
Are tandem bikes banned?
Ive been doing my grocery shopping on my bike. Beats the hell out of taking mass transit right now. If auto repair shops are essential then it makes sense for bike shops to be open too.
Great question.
internal passport?
Imagine the long lines people will have to stand in to get those.
I don’t think you will get to apply. It will be bestowed to “approved” people.
Boyles speculated that these letters of transit are a trial balloon for martial law. He was going to post his letter online but was told that would be a firing offense.
Why does this upset you so much?
Bikes are mass transit in Denver.
I don’t even think anyone there owns a car.
I can understand about Coloradans, but doesn’t allowing visitors defect the concept of Stay At Home?
France is discouraging using bicycles for exercise. Reason given: if you fall and are injured, you’ll be using hospital resources needed to deal with Wuhan disease.
What do you mean, ‘upset’ me? Doesn’t upset me at all. Just something kinda interesting that I thought I’d post here.
That actually is a reasonable reason.
“The leftists love this. They can pick and choose which businesses can stay open and which have to close. This love this power.”
Republican governors are doing the same thing.
Boulderites are/could be revolting. So to speak.
I didn’t get to spend much time in Boulder. Aside from seeing that it’s beautiful, and eating some Mexican food there, my brother told me it’s full of Communists.
LOL! Like I said, revolting. I spent some time in CO in the mid 60’s and it was REALLY awesome then. Like too many other states, thee beauty is crushed by the politics. Even if you aren’t interested in poitics, sooner or later politics will be interested in you.
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