LoCo-Motion September Newsletter
School Safety
School is back and if you’ve been out at all between 7:30-8:30 am or 2:30-4 pm, you’ll notice it! Whether you’re driving in a car or riding on a bike, what can we all do to ensure the safety of ourselves and those around us? Be alert. Remember, kids may be biking or walking and may not be as predictable as an adult.
- Please drive the speed limit or slower and provide your full attention, especially in school zones. Fines for speeding, inattentive driving, etc. are doubled in school zones.
- Look for bicycles and pedestrians. When in the driver’s seat, many come to an intersection and look for cars and forget to look for these smaller profiles.
- If you’re on a bicycle, ride where you’re visible and away from the door zone. Motorists are slowing down to the school zone speed limit so you shouldn’t be holding them up too much. Make sure they can see you rather than weaving in and out around the parked cars.
- Stop at stop signs and cross walks.
- Stop at red lights and yellow lights. Look for pedestrians and bicycles before proceeding.
It takes everyone to make and keep our community safe. Let’s all do our part to keep our children and our community safe.
School Pool: Find Rides for Your Kids
The School Pool program is a ride matching service provided by Way to Go, a Denver Regional Council of Governments program. Many parents have busy lives and could use a little extra help getting their kids to school. Others would like to pool existing resources in the form of ridesharing to reduce congestion, fuel consumption and the air pollution associated with driving. Whatever the reason, the School Pool program can help. If this ride matching service is something you are interested in, you can learn more at the Way to Go website or call (303) 458-7665. The service is free of charge.
Rides
Bread Rollers
The Bread Rollers continue to roll out every Wednesday at 8:15am from the Longmont Senior Center at 910 Longs Peak Ave. The average ride is 18-25 miles at a 12-14 mph pace for 90-120 minutes. The ride combines bike lanes, low stress roads (including a few short stretches on hard packed gravel now and then), and often a few high stress intersections. Come prepared with your tuned bike, water, helmet, snack, spare tube, and money in the event of a coffee or ice cream stop. Visit the Meetup page to register and subscribe to seasonal and weather updates. For any questions, email lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov. Please note that start times may change seasonally as it gets warm later.
Cinnamon Rollers
The Cinnamon Rollers roll out at 8:15am on Thursday mornings from the Longmont Senior Center after a safety check and intros. This ride is a little slower, a little shorter, and is more welcoming to the beginner rider. Join us with your on-road, mountain, e or hybrid bicycle! We mostly ride in bike lanes and multi-use paths, and we do our best to avoid any high stress intersections (though occasionally it is unavoidable). Come prepared with your tuned bike, water, helmet, snack, spare tube, and some money in the event of a coffee or ice cream stop! Visit the Meetup page to register and subscribe to seasonal and weather updates. For any questions, email lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov. Please note that start times may change seasonally as it gets warm later.
Opportunities
Bicycle Issues Committee (BIC)
The Bicycle Issues Committee is comprised of a voluntary group of Longmont residents interested in improving the bicycling environment in Longmont. Meetings are virtual and typically held the fourth Monday of every month. The next virtual meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2022, at 6pm. Your e-mail is required to provide the meeting link. If you would like to participate, please email Ben Ortiz at ben.ortiz@longmontcolorado.gov.
Smart Commute Annual Transportation Survey
The City of Longmont is pleased to partner with Smart Commute to assess how City of Longmont residents are commuting to work and traveling in our city. The core survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and provides important data for further analysis. This year, we are not only interested in understanding your commute choices and interests, but we are also interested in evaluating the air quality effects of commuting, as well as your thoughts on how to make it easier to walk, bike and ride transit around our city.
Please participate in this North Metro Commuter Survey as soon as possible; survey closes October 1.
Smart Commute is a people-powered transportation management organization. Learn more at the Smart Commute website.
Events
Climate Action Sunday: September 18
- What: Join the City of Longmont for this first “mini Earth Day” celebration that will focus on The Air We Breathe. Please consider riding your bicycle, walking or taking public transit to this free event.
- Where: Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road
- When: 2-5pm
Bicycle Rodeo: September 21
Bicycle Rodeos provide children with the opportunity to learn and develop bicycle handling skills in a safe and controlled environment to prepare them for travel on the road when appropriate. The Kensington Park neighborhood will be hosting a bicycle rodeo for neighbors on Wednesday, September 21 from 4-7pm. If space allows, rodeo sign-ups will open beyond the immediate neighborhood residents a few days prior to the event.
- No bicycle experience is necessary.
- Volunteers needed: sign up to assist with activities, helmet fitting, and registration.
To learn more, register, or volunteer, please email Lauren Greenfield at lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov or call 303.774.4547.
World Car-Free Day: September 22
What will YOU do to celebrate World Car-Free Day on Thursday, September 22? Email your plans and successes to lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov and we may post them in our October LoCo-Motion Newsletter. If you wish to remain anonymous, be sure to let us know when you submit your email story.
Bike2Parks: October 1
Join us for a rolling history tour of Longmont’s parks! Accompanied by the author of “Longmont – Stories of our Parks” and former parks and trails project manager, Paula Fitzgerald, and by Traffic Safety Coordinator, Lauren Greenfield, we will visit Longmont’s three oldest parks—Roosevelt, Thompson and Collyer Parks—and stop at our newest park, Dickens Farm Nature Area, for this six mile Saturday ride. Registration, waivers, and helmets are required. Register online at the Longmont on Bikes Meetup page to sign up or contactor email lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov.
National Walk & Roll to School Day: October 12
Wednesday, October 12 is National Walk & Roll to School Day. Visit the Walk & Roll to School Day website to register your school for this fun, annual healthy-habits day. For more ideas on how to motivate your your kids and their classmates and to acknowledge your walkers with Walk to School stickers, email lauren.greenfield@Longmontcolorado.gov.
