Active transportation refers to a mode of travel propelled by human energy — primarily walking and bicycling, but also encompassing modes such as scooters, skateboards and wheelchairs.
DRCOG staff and member governments advocate for safe, comfortable and connected bicycle and pedestrian facilities, which offer significant benefits to the region:
- Increased personal mobility options for individuals of all ages and income levels.
- Decreased motor vehicle travel, travel costs, fuel consumption and air pollution.
- Improved overall health through enhanced physical activity.
Safety is paramount
Bicyclists and pedestrians are among the most vulnerable users of the transportation system, consisting of only 3% of all crashes but accounting for 24% of all traffic-related fatalities. Research indicates that planning for and implementing facilities to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists also improves safety for drivers. With bicycle and pedestrian trips expected to rise more rapidly than both population growth and vehicle miles traveled, supporting the implementation of safe, comfortable, and connected facilities is crucial to support more individuals opting for active transportation.
High-comfort facilities accommodate more users
Safe, connected and accessible active transportation networks are vital for households without motor vehicles, older adults and people with mobility disabilities. In the Denver metro area, 59% of the population are interested in — but have concerns about — bicycling, underscoring the importance of enhancing the comfort and safety of bicycle facilities to encourage greater adoption of active transportation. The region's aging population underscores the necessity for safe and accessible alternatives to driving, as older adults who no longer feel comfortable driving or lack the physical or financial means to do so often face limitations in performing daily activities, leading to issues such as social isolation and inactivity.
Active Transportation Plan
DRCOG staff collaborate with partners throughout the region to develop a comprehensive active transportation vision, tools and resources to bolster the implementation of a robust active transportation network across the region.
The Active Transportation Plan:
- Promotes access to safe, comfortable and connected active transportation facilities, including shared-use paths, bike lanes and sidewalks, catering to individuals of all ages, income levels and abilities.
- Encourages active transportation options in rural, suburban and urban communities.
- Advocates for active transportation facilities that efficiently and comfortably connect the network and region, including those facilitating connections to transit.
- Supports the Denver region's vision to enhance safety, reduce vehicle miles traveled, decrease single-occupancy vehicle use and improve air quality.
Bicycle and pedestrian resources
DRCOG staff prepare and maintain valuable resources for bicycle and pedestrian planning, including:
- The Regional Active Transportation Plan, envisioning a safe, comfortable and connected network while outlining opportunities and strategies for enhancing active transportation across the Denver region.
- The current Active Modes Crash Report, analyzing collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists and motor vehicles in the Denver region.
- The Denver Regional Bicycle Map, providing information on the region's bicycle facilities, including on-street routes and lanes, protected bike lanes and off-street trails, along with details on bike-share stations and transit park-and-ride locations to aid riders in route planning.
- The Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts map, displaying data on the volume of bicyclists and pedestrians at various locations throughout the region, available for download.
- The Regional Data Catalog, featuring crash location datasets from 2013 to 2020, including those involving bicycles and pedestrians in the Denver region.
Bike to Work Day
Every year, DRCOG's Way to Go program organizes and hosts Bike to Work Day in the region on the fourth Wednesday in June. It is the second-largest Bike to Work Day event in the nation.