Bicycling in Longmont – FAQs
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FAQ’s for Bicycling in Longmont
Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
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When a sidewalk is not present, safe practice is to walk facing the traffic. When there is a sidewalk, it makes the most sense to utilize the side that will most efficiently reach your destination to avoid any jaywalking or mid/block crossings.
Please visit the City of Longmont Rules of the Road web page for more helpful tips for pedestrians and bicyclists.
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Always ride your bike in the SAME direction that traffic is going. Being predictable on a bike is being safe.
Please visit the City of Longmont Rules of the Road webpage for more helpful tips for bicyclists.
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Please visit the City of Longmont Rules of the Road webpage for helpful tips for bicyclists.
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There are periodic classes/programs for bike safety offered through the City of Longmont through the Traffic Safety Fund. The City generally offers 12 bicycle rodeos per year. Rodeos provide a safe environment for kids to learn and practice safe bicycle handling skills. For more information on rodeos or to request a Safe Bicycling class, please email Traffic Safety Coordinator Lauren Greenfield. Classes can be provided free of charge to any organized group of kids between the ages of 5-16. Classes are free, and can be customized to fit your group, whether “on bike” or classroom setting with no bike transport needed.
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The Pratt Street bridge that spans the St. Vrain greenway will be closed during renovation of that bridge, beginning in February 2018.
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The City has made great progress in fixing the damage caused by the 2013 flood. The reality is that it was really devastated and the “fix” is more complex than just replacing the concrete greenway. There are several phases of the Resilient St. Vrain project. Updates can be found here. The good news is that it’s underway; some parts are already funded, and some parts already improved/fixed. The long term fix should last for our lifetimes, even in the event of another 500 year flood. Updates to the greenway/bike paths can be found here: Resilient St. Vrain
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Always best to wear technical (synthetic) layers next to skin. Avoid cotton, as when cotton gets wet, it generally stays wet -not so bad when it’s hot, but very bad when it’s cold out. Best to dress in layers, with particular focus on your digits: fingers and toes will get cold before other parts. Hand or feet warmers can work wonders! When biking, being slight cold for the first mile is normal; while you’re exercising/moving your body, any wind chill could negate that body warm up. Experiment with layers: it’s as important to not overdress as it is to not underdress. Overdressing will cause you to overheat!
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Bicyclists should ride as far to the right as is practical and safe. Oftentimes, there is debris, glass, ice, or gutters with parallel divots on the right, in the bike lane. In Longmont, roads that have excessive debris include roads with high construction traffic, such as Martin Street, Boston Avenue, Main Street, etc.
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Current plowed bike lanes can be viewed on the Bicycle Snow Routes map. Snow Routes
Please email Lauren Greenfield with questions.
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The LOBO trail is a multi use path that continues from southwest Longmont to the City of Boulder. Terrain is concrete and/or crusher fines, and, weather permitting can accommodate all types of bicycles/tires. County trail maps (with the LOBO trail) are available at the Development Services Center, 385 Kimbark Street, Longmont.
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- The Longmont Recreation Center? In current conditions, the *best* way to reach the Museum/Rec Center from the downtown or central Longmont area would be to ride on one of the recommended W/E bike lanes (indicated on the City of Longmont bicycle map) to Martin Street Continue South-bound on Martin Street past Ken Pratt Blvd to access the greenway just South of Ken Pratt/round-about. The entrance to the greenway is on the right (not signed yet).
- The LOBO trail? The above directions will continue to the LOBO trail.
- The St Vrain greenway? The St. Vrain greenway is still split in two, though detours can be found. Currently the greenway extends from Airport Road just north of Rodgers Road to Main Street. From Main Street, to proceed eastbound, go over the bridge (northbound) and under the bridge (eastbound), continuing northbound on Main Street to Boston Avenue, proceeding eastbound to Martin Street.Westbound from Martin Street, continue northbound to First Avenue; proceed westbound on First Avenue, under the overpass, turning northbound on S. Pratt and onto the St. Vrain greenway at Delaware Avenue.
- Up the hill? The grade is less on the East side of Main Street. Try biking up Martin Street or Emery Street. On the West side of town, Gay Street or Bowen Street are less of a grade than some of the others.
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As the painted bicycle lanes approach an intersection, some remain a solid line and some turn to dashed lines. Dashed lines indicate that cyclists have options. Solid lines suggest that bicyclists continue straight.
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In the City of Longmont, class 1 and class 2 e-bikes may be ridden on all bike or pedestrian paths anywhere bicycles are authorized to travel including the City’s greenway trails. Class 3 e-bikes may only be ridden on a path within a street or highway. State law prohibits the operation of class 3 e-bikes at all other locations including greenway trails unless the local authority has expressly approved their use on these facilities. To date, the City of Longmont has not approved the use of class 3 e-bikes on the City’s greenway trails. E-bikes are also allowed on all public streets.
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