New Infrastructure at W. Elizabeth & Ponderosa
Exciting news! We are proud to announce new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure has been installed at W. Elizabeth and Ponderosa. If you have ever tried to cross W. Elizabeth by foot or bike outside the signalized intersections at Taft Hill and Shields Street, you know it can be quite challenging. Now an enhanced crossing with push button signals and markings for both cyclists and pedestrians makes it easier and safer for walkers and bikers to cross W. Elizabeth along the Hampshire Bikeway. It functions similar to a recently built crossing at Loomis Street and Laporte Avenue. Check it out!
Supporting Cycling for Affordable Housing Residents
The pandemic has put K-12 bike education on hold, but the Safe Routes to School team has pivoted to help enable family cycling in other ways. Throughout the pandemic we have been working with two affordable housing providers Housing Catalyst and CARE Housing to help keep the residents’ bikes in running condition. So far we’ve worked on over 135 bicycles!

  
Galentine's Ride Recap
Last week FC Moves partnered with Bike Ride for Black Lives, Ride for Racial Justice, Bike Fort Collins, the Hex Wenches, the Fort Follies, and the Sugar Beets to put on a week-long self-guided adventure winter ride and Zoom meetup. The event was a success, and lots of equity concepts in and around riding a bike were discussed in the Zoom session, including racial justice, gender equity, and transportation justice. You can check out more information about those topics on the ride website.
Construction Updates
Cherry Street is under construction east of Shields Street. A bridge replacement project will disrupt through traffic on Cherry Street as part of the Arthur Ditch Improvement project. During construction, traffic will be restricted and detours will be posted around the project area. Cherry Street will be closed to all through vehicles for the duration of the work, which is expected to be complete by mid-April, weather permitting. The closure will be between Wood Street and Grant Avenue, and access to businesses and residences will be maintained. The main detour routes will be Mulberry Street, Laporte Avenue, and Willox Lane. In addition to the Arthur ditch work, there is also gas line work being done in the area.


Columbia and Lemay construction will start this March to add a new enhanced bicycle and pedestrian crossing. This will make crossing Lemay easier and safer for walkers and people on bikes.

Drake and Hampshire construction is expected to start between March and May. Another enhanced bicycle and pedestrian crossing will be installed to improve crossing Drake along the Hampshire Bikeway.
Transfort Travel Training Moves Online
Are you new to Fort Collins and need assistance learning the bus system? Have you wondered about Transfort service, but aren’t sure how to get started?
 
Join us for this one hour virtual class from the comfort of your home or office on your computer. Training topics will cover:
  • hours of operation and service area
  • how to understand and read the bus schedules
  • planning a trip
  • using our bus tracker tool
  • texting for bus arrival times and more!


Next Class is Wednesday, March 3 from 11am-12pm.

Classes will be held on Zoom. Please register through Engage and the Zoom link will be sent to you.
Take the Earth Day Challenge!
Join the Earth Day Challenge, an online climate action competition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Join as an individual or create a team and shift to more sustainable actions!  
 
What is the Earth Day Challenge?
 
The Earth Day Challenge is a fun competition to see who can lose the most CO2. Every pound of CO2 you reduce equals one point. Earn points to win prizes such as one year of free curbside composting or $200 in grocery store gift cards. Every household that earns 5,000 points will be entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize and will have a shot at other prize categories.
 
Steps to Play:
  • Create an account at shiftfoco.com
  • Create a new "Team" or "Community Group" or sign-up as an individual
  • Pick actions you want to focus on this year
  • Take action and track your progress at shiftfoco.com
   
You could win a bike if you pledge to Shift Your Ride
Last September, we launched our Shift Your Ride Challenge where we set a goal of encouraging 1,500 community members to Shift Their Ride and go car-free just one extra trip per week to save time and money for what matters most in life.

Between now and Earth Day 2021, we need to get 1,000 more pledges. Two lucky people who pledge to Shift Their Ride before Earth Day will have a chance to win one of two brand new bikes!

Shifting your ride can be easy and fun. And, you’d don’t have to ride a bike to have an impact! All you have to do is go car-free at least one more time per week than you currently do. That could mean teleworking once per week if your employer allows. Or, walking to a trailhead for a weekend walk instead of driving there. You can even use MAX to run an errand instead of taking your car. Check out current transit information and other tips for Shifting Your Ride (safely) before Earth Day 2021.

While you’re at it, go ahead and join the Earth Day Challenge so you can score points while you Shift Your Ride. Take the pledge and learn how easy it can be to Shift Your Ride at www.fcgov.com/SYR
CSU COVID Bike Routes
The COVID pandemic led CSU to evaluate how to guide physical distancing while helping students and employees safely access campus. CSU Parking & Transportation Services (PTS) conducted scenario planning to anticipate commuting patterns, given the uncertainty of in person classes, on campus residents, the availability of public transit, and the desire to support open air forms of transportation (walking, bike, e-scooters). The project team identified methods to separate modes of transportation and improve locations where physical distancing could be challenged (narrow trails and sidewalks).

CSU secured grant funding to support this objective through the “The Revitalizing Main Streets Program.” The program, developed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and other state partners, supports infrastructure projects that provide open spaces for mobility, community activities, and economic development in the wake of the pandemic. They were seeking “quick win” activities to improve safety and create new community spaces to encourage healthy activity and mobility in Colorado’s towns and cities (and universities).

Wayfinding signage help separate commuters to available trail infrastructure. The COVID signage directs thousands of daily bicyclists and pedestrians to use separated infrastructure to physically separate these daily commuters. Further, the signage supports, if necessary, the conversion of bike lanes to expand temporary sidewalks and transit stops should enhanced physical distancing requirements be enacted to direct bicyclists to parallel trails. CSU received $18,216 to fabricate and install 11 permanent directional signage at common congested trail and roadway intersections, completing a significant portion of the entire wayfinding system across campus.
Online Classes
D.I.R.T: Dirty Imperative Repairs Trailside: a New Maintenance Class!

Have you ever wondered what to do when out riding on dirt and something goes awry? Well, we’ve got ya! In this latest installation of our mechanic class series we have partnered with our local mountain biking advocacy group, Overland Mountain Bike Association, to cover what to carry on your ride, what to do when you get a flat (tubeless), when your chain breaks, your brakes fail, or your derailleur hanger bends. We will also have time set aside to talk about your experiences and answer any questions you have. Due to Covid this class will be online and not in person. We plan on holding an in-person class as soon as we can.

Next Class will be on March 2 from 6:15PM – 7:45PM.
Bicycle Friendly Driver

Have you ever been driving and noticed a cyclist doing something unexpected? Find out some possible reasons for this in our Bicycle Friendly Driver class. You'll learn everything from why cyclists take the lane, to changes we can make when we are driving to help share the road more with all road users. Earn a Bicycle Friendly Driver certification upon completion of the course.


Upcoming Classes:
February 18: 12:00 - 1:15 p.m.
March 9: 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.
City of Fort Collins-FC Moves | fcgov.com/bicycling