#StreetFail

Here’s a #StreetFail that encapsulates one of the key obstacles to safe, bikeable streets in Denver. Drivers park in bike lanes all the time, and the people who are supposed to enforce the law do it too. This Denver Police Department bus was parked on top of the bike lane directly across the street from City Hall last Thursday. The symbolism … Continued

Our latest #StreetFail comes from a Streetsblog reader who sent in these photos after a short walk from the bus stop to her office. In the two blocks between where the No. 15 drops her off and where she works, she witnessed trucks blocking bikeways three separate times — once in the 15th Street protected bike lane and twice … Continued

Yes! We have a fancy new protected bike lane on Lawrence Street in downtown Denver. Protected bicycle lanes are supposed to provide bicycle riders with protection, right? But that only works if the city prioritizes clear bike lanes as much as it does car lanes. Crews from the Department of Public Works tend not to plow bike lanes as diligently … Continued

This photo from Friday’s afternoon rush hour on Broadway is a reminder that if you’re walking, the street isn’t designed for you. The guerrilla stop sign, one of four between 7th and 8th avenues in front of the Anthem building, is near the entrances and exits to an underground parking garage. The street design favors vehicles so much … Continued

When construction projects jut into bike lanes, the city needs to keep those lanes functioning safely. But that isn’t happening on the 15th Street “protected” bike lane between California and Stout, above. This construction site takes up the whole block. Denver Public Works attempted to keep the bike lane intact by temporarily repurposing a traffic lane. Problem is, the … Continued

Here’s a bus stop with absolutely no protection from the zooming trucks and cars that frequent Brighton Boulevard. This RTD stop is smack in the middle of a sidewalk desert, next to the Denver Colosseum and ramps to I-70. There’s no difference between the street and the waiting area — a parking lot — so … Continued

There are a lot of parking spots downtown and way too many planned for the future. But these drivers apparently can’t find one, so why not squat in the bike lane on Wynkoop Street in front of Union Station? Sure, they’re forcing people on bikes (not to mention other cars) into often chaotic traffic. But at least the drivers, or perhaps … Continued

Here’s a terrible design failure. I-70 is a barrier between Stapleton and Northfield. The Quebec Street underpass is supposed to provide a way across, but it only works well if you’re driving. Good luck walking it. There are other ways across I-70 on foot. You could, for instance, walk a half-hour to cross at Central … Continued

Since Streetsblog Denver launched last May, we’ve beat the drum to make the Mile High City’s streets better for walking, biking, and transit. We’ve been watchdogging how city agencies implement policy and questioning the car-centric status quo peddled by local decision makers and media figures. What has to change to make our streets safer, more urban, and more equitable? To tell … Continued