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Bicycle Plan Update

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NOVEMBER UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who took our surveys and provided feedback on our initial bicycle network recommendations! Public engagement for this project has ended, and the project team is hard at work preparing the updated Bicycle Plan for adoption. Please feel free to browse this site for more information about the project until an update is available in the spring. If you would like to be notified when there is a status update, please scroll down to the bottom of the righthand column to enter your email address and subscribe to project updates.


PROJECT BACKGROUND: The Bicycle Plan aims to provide a framework for a high-quality, safe, convenient, continuous and accessible bicycle transportation system for people of all ages and abilities while promoting bicycling as a mode of transportation that reduces carbon emissions and improves the health of community members. The Plan is used by city planners and transportation staff to guide the placement and design of bike facilities during ongoing processes including development, annual street resurfacing and other capital projects, as well as to inform decisions related to pursuing grant funding for bicycle projects.

Why is the Bicycle Plan being updated?

Lakewood’s current Bicycle Plan was adopted in 2018. In the six years since the Plan was adopted, the active transportation landscape has changed significantly as bicycling infrastructure expands throughout the region, and national guidance is increasingly available for newer designs such as separated bike lanes. The project team will explore integrating this updated national guidance into the new Plan as well as developing a process for adding buffered and separated bike lanes to the city’s proposed network.

Other goals of the update include revisiting 2018 recommendations with the public; analyzing the connectivity of Lakewood’s bicycle network to key destinations and neighboring municipalities; refining the quality and consistency of facilities shown on city bike route maps; conducting spatial and crash analysis to inform the prioritization of future projects; and providing Lakewood residents with an opportunity to evaluate staff recommendations to ensure that they are in line with the wants and needs of the community.

NOVEMBER UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who took our surveys and provided feedback on our initial bicycle network recommendations! Public engagement for this project has ended, and the project team is hard at work preparing the updated Bicycle Plan for adoption. Please feel free to browse this site for more information about the project until an update is available in the spring. If you would like to be notified when there is a status update, please scroll down to the bottom of the righthand column to enter your email address and subscribe to project updates.


PROJECT BACKGROUND: The Bicycle Plan aims to provide a framework for a high-quality, safe, convenient, continuous and accessible bicycle transportation system for people of all ages and abilities while promoting bicycling as a mode of transportation that reduces carbon emissions and improves the health of community members. The Plan is used by city planners and transportation staff to guide the placement and design of bike facilities during ongoing processes including development, annual street resurfacing and other capital projects, as well as to inform decisions related to pursuing grant funding for bicycle projects.

Why is the Bicycle Plan being updated?

Lakewood’s current Bicycle Plan was adopted in 2018. In the six years since the Plan was adopted, the active transportation landscape has changed significantly as bicycling infrastructure expands throughout the region, and national guidance is increasingly available for newer designs such as separated bike lanes. The project team will explore integrating this updated national guidance into the new Plan as well as developing a process for adding buffered and separated bike lanes to the city’s proposed network.

Other goals of the update include revisiting 2018 recommendations with the public; analyzing the connectivity of Lakewood’s bicycle network to key destinations and neighboring municipalities; refining the quality and consistency of facilities shown on city bike route maps; conducting spatial and crash analysis to inform the prioritization of future projects; and providing Lakewood residents with an opportunity to evaluate staff recommendations to ensure that they are in line with the wants and needs of the community.

Ask a Question

Please submit any questions you may have about the Bicycle Plan update process or the Bicycle Plan in general, and the project team will respond within three business days. Questions and answers about this project may be visible to the public.  

For questions about separated bike lanes, please visit the Separated Bike Lane project website. 

For general questions and concerns about bicycling in Lakewood, please submit a service request via Request Lakewood. 

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  • Share Why isn't the Bear Creek Lake Park loop road and multi-use path shown as a bike route on the map? This is a very popular route for exercising for me and others I see out there. It's also a good connection for bicycle commuters. on Facebook Share Why isn't the Bear Creek Lake Park loop road and multi-use path shown as a bike route on the map? This is a very popular route for exercising for me and others I see out there. It's also a good connection for bicycle commuters. on Twitter Share Why isn't the Bear Creek Lake Park loop road and multi-use path shown as a bike route on the map? This is a very popular route for exercising for me and others I see out there. It's also a good connection for bicycle commuters. on Linkedin Email Why isn't the Bear Creek Lake Park loop road and multi-use path shown as a bike route on the map? This is a very popular route for exercising for me and others I see out there. It's also a good connection for bicycle commuters. link

    Why isn't the Bear Creek Lake Park loop road and multi-use path shown as a bike route on the map? This is a very popular route for exercising for me and others I see out there. It's also a good connection for bicycle commuters.

    DA asked 15 days ago

    The map of existing and proposed bike routes only shows routes that have or will have some sort of infrastructure designating it as one of the listed facility types (e.g. neighborhood bikeway, bike lane, etc.). Kumpfmiller Dr, Hampden Ave, and the park loop road do not have any proposed changes since they already function well as shared roadways and do not fall under our definition of a neighborhood bikeway, so they are not shown on the map even though they are popular routes. The map does include the paved multi-use paths in Bear Creek Lake Park, including the Bear Creek Trail and the C-470 Trail, but does not include any unpaved trails because this Plan update is transportation-focused and unpaved trails are not typically a viable route for bicyclists who do not have tires suitable for dirt or gravel. I hope this helps clear up any confusion!

    - Jenny

  • Share It looks like the Garrison Station Connector is already under construction. Is the connector only going to the W line platform on the north side of the station, or will there be a trail to the north of this platform where 'thru traffic' can bypass the platform? on Facebook Share It looks like the Garrison Station Connector is already under construction. Is the connector only going to the W line platform on the north side of the station, or will there be a trail to the north of this platform where 'thru traffic' can bypass the platform? on Twitter Share It looks like the Garrison Station Connector is already under construction. Is the connector only going to the W line platform on the north side of the station, or will there be a trail to the north of this platform where 'thru traffic' can bypass the platform? on Linkedin Email It looks like the Garrison Station Connector is already under construction. Is the connector only going to the W line platform on the north side of the station, or will there be a trail to the north of this platform where 'thru traffic' can bypass the platform? link

    It looks like the Garrison Station Connector is already under construction. Is the connector only going to the W line platform on the north side of the station, or will there be a trail to the north of this platform where 'thru traffic' can bypass the platform?

    Bike curious asked 17 days ago

    The Garrison Station connector path will only connect Estes St to the light rail station. An additional trail to the north of the platform would have been our preference, but unfortunately it required property rights that were not feasible for the City to attain. RTD does not allow bicyclists to ride through the station itself, so a gate will be in place to deter thru traffic and the W Line Path will retain its detour onto 13th Ave for anyone not accessing the station.

    - Jenny

  • Share Has anyone considered if increasing signage would actually have a negative effect because there is already SO MUCh signage in Colorado that it has a numbing effect on drivers? I travel to other states and compared, the view of roads traveled here has just a constant barrage of various crap that leads me at least to plain ignore them. I believe sperate paths and physical alrets/barriers/bumps are a better route, and please, no more signs unless truly important (please read The Boy Who Cried Wolf again, I think it applies) on Facebook Share Has anyone considered if increasing signage would actually have a negative effect because there is already SO MUCh signage in Colorado that it has a numbing effect on drivers? I travel to other states and compared, the view of roads traveled here has just a constant barrage of various crap that leads me at least to plain ignore them. I believe sperate paths and physical alrets/barriers/bumps are a better route, and please, no more signs unless truly important (please read The Boy Who Cried Wolf again, I think it applies) on Twitter Share Has anyone considered if increasing signage would actually have a negative effect because there is already SO MUCh signage in Colorado that it has a numbing effect on drivers? I travel to other states and compared, the view of roads traveled here has just a constant barrage of various crap that leads me at least to plain ignore them. I believe sperate paths and physical alrets/barriers/bumps are a better route, and please, no more signs unless truly important (please read The Boy Who Cried Wolf again, I think it applies) on Linkedin Email Has anyone considered if increasing signage would actually have a negative effect because there is already SO MUCh signage in Colorado that it has a numbing effect on drivers? I travel to other states and compared, the view of roads traveled here has just a constant barrage of various crap that leads me at least to plain ignore them. I believe sperate paths and physical alrets/barriers/bumps are a better route, and please, no more signs unless truly important (please read The Boy Who Cried Wolf again, I think it applies) link

    Has anyone considered if increasing signage would actually have a negative effect because there is already SO MUCh signage in Colorado that it has a numbing effect on drivers? I travel to other states and compared, the view of roads traveled here has just a constant barrage of various crap that leads me at least to plain ignore them. I believe sperate paths and physical alrets/barriers/bumps are a better route, and please, no more signs unless truly important (please read The Boy Who Cried Wolf again, I think it applies)

    CJbmx2000 asked 25 days ago

    This is an interesting point, and something that our transportation engineering team strongly believes as well. There is actually national guidance against excessive signage (See Section 2A.20 of the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices), so Lakewood is very intentional with any new signs we install and we also regularly evaluate the necessity of any existing signs and markings that are up for replacement to consider removal where possible. That being said, signage and wayfinding are definitely part of our vision for future neighborhood bikeways, so new signs will likely be installed on these routes; but neighborhood bikeways are by definition residential streets and are typically not as overwhelmed with signage as more major roadways, so we are not expecting the changes to result in harmful clutter. 

    I hope this helps! Thanks for sharing your concern.

    - Jenny

  • Share Is this network available in a pdf format that one can print off? on Facebook Share Is this network available in a pdf format that one can print off? on Twitter Share Is this network available in a pdf format that one can print off? on Linkedin Email Is this network available in a pdf format that one can print off? link

    Is this network available in a pdf format that one can print off?

    Peter McDonald asked 27 days ago

    We have uploaded a PDF version of the proposed network map on the project website in the righthand column under “Documents”. Because of the sheer volume of data involved, the map does not translate well to a standard letter (8.5 x 11 inch) size; but the PDF (36 x 48 inches) can still be printed on standard letter paper and shrinks down quite clean if you have sharp eyesight or good reading glasses! Otherwise I would recommend either utilizing a printing service to print the map in a larger size or viewing the PDF digitally if you find it more convenient than the interactive online map.

    - Jenny

  • Share Why is Lakewood trying to mimic everything that Denver does? Many people have moved out of Denver to get away from stuff that has made their lives unpleasant. We don’t go to downtown Denver anymore because the way they’ve ruined all the streets with their over the top bicycle junk. Only a small demographic uses these bike lanes, and these lanes are only used a few months a year. Traffic does not flow well. I’ve been an Uber driver for 10 years. I won’t take trips into Denver anymore. The streets are to much of a convoluted mess. Why do this to Lakewood? This transportation woman needs to concentrate on good roads for drivers or be replaced. on Facebook Share Why is Lakewood trying to mimic everything that Denver does? Many people have moved out of Denver to get away from stuff that has made their lives unpleasant. We don’t go to downtown Denver anymore because the way they’ve ruined all the streets with their over the top bicycle junk. Only a small demographic uses these bike lanes, and these lanes are only used a few months a year. Traffic does not flow well. I’ve been an Uber driver for 10 years. I won’t take trips into Denver anymore. The streets are to much of a convoluted mess. Why do this to Lakewood? This transportation woman needs to concentrate on good roads for drivers or be replaced. on Twitter Share Why is Lakewood trying to mimic everything that Denver does? Many people have moved out of Denver to get away from stuff that has made their lives unpleasant. We don’t go to downtown Denver anymore because the way they’ve ruined all the streets with their over the top bicycle junk. Only a small demographic uses these bike lanes, and these lanes are only used a few months a year. Traffic does not flow well. I’ve been an Uber driver for 10 years. I won’t take trips into Denver anymore. The streets are to much of a convoluted mess. Why do this to Lakewood? This transportation woman needs to concentrate on good roads for drivers or be replaced. on Linkedin Email Why is Lakewood trying to mimic everything that Denver does? Many people have moved out of Denver to get away from stuff that has made their lives unpleasant. We don’t go to downtown Denver anymore because the way they’ve ruined all the streets with their over the top bicycle junk. Only a small demographic uses these bike lanes, and these lanes are only used a few months a year. Traffic does not flow well. I’ve been an Uber driver for 10 years. I won’t take trips into Denver anymore. The streets are to much of a convoluted mess. Why do this to Lakewood? This transportation woman needs to concentrate on good roads for drivers or be replaced. link

    Why is Lakewood trying to mimic everything that Denver does? Many people have moved out of Denver to get away from stuff that has made their lives unpleasant. We don’t go to downtown Denver anymore because the way they’ve ruined all the streets with their over the top bicycle junk. Only a small demographic uses these bike lanes, and these lanes are only used a few months a year. Traffic does not flow well. I’ve been an Uber driver for 10 years. I won’t take trips into Denver anymore. The streets are to much of a convoluted mess. Why do this to Lakewood? This transportation woman needs to concentrate on good roads for drivers or be replaced.

    MCR asked 27 days ago

    This is a very valid question, and it’s important to clarify that Lakewood is not trying to mimic everything that Denver does. Our updates to the Bicycle Plan are inspired by many of our neighboring municipalities, including Denver, Golden, Edgewater, and Jefferson County, and we are paying close attention to what seems to have worked so far to improve the safety and comfort of bicycling in these and other places to inform our own strategy going forward. If you’ve had a chance to browse our proposed improvements, you may find that they are not as “over the top” as some of Denver’s recent changes. The top priority for Lakewood transportation staff is the safety of all road users, and a lot of recent data shows that bicycle infrastructure can actually increase the overall safety of the roadway. As the metro region continues to grow and densify and Colorado’s air quality worsens, it is also an effort to provide an alternative and more sustainable way to get around Lakewood besides driving a vehicle. (Believe it or not, a surprising amount of people bike for transportation year-round!)  

    I hope this provides some clarity on what we are hoping to achieve with this Bicycle Plan update and that becoming another downtown Denver is not our goal.  

    - Jenny, “This Transportation Woman”

  • Share For the Miller St Neighborhood proposed bike facilities, and for the other neighborhood bikeway, can you please explain how this designation may impact on street parking for the neighborhoods? The description identifies signage and other road markings but it is unclear what this may mean. Thank you. on Facebook Share For the Miller St Neighborhood proposed bike facilities, and for the other neighborhood bikeway, can you please explain how this designation may impact on street parking for the neighborhoods? The description identifies signage and other road markings but it is unclear what this may mean. Thank you. on Twitter Share For the Miller St Neighborhood proposed bike facilities, and for the other neighborhood bikeway, can you please explain how this designation may impact on street parking for the neighborhoods? The description identifies signage and other road markings but it is unclear what this may mean. Thank you. on Linkedin Email For the Miller St Neighborhood proposed bike facilities, and for the other neighborhood bikeway, can you please explain how this designation may impact on street parking for the neighborhoods? The description identifies signage and other road markings but it is unclear what this may mean. Thank you. link

    For the Miller St Neighborhood proposed bike facilities, and for the other neighborhood bikeway, can you please explain how this designation may impact on street parking for the neighborhoods? The description identifies signage and other road markings but it is unclear what this may mean. Thank you.

    Tom Birney asked 27 days ago

    Thank you for asking a great question. We do not currently plan to remove on-street parking on any proposed neighborhood bikeways. For the most part the road configuration will not change and the impact on the neighborhoods will be quite small; the primary method of designating a route as a neighborhood bikeway will be signing it as such and perhaps installing bicycle markings on the road where it feels necessary. Any changes to the roadway itself would be along the lines of traffic calming such as speed bumps or pedestrian crossing islands, but those changes will happen only on a case-by-case basis where our engineering team has determined that vehicle speeds are high enough to require traffic calming to keep the bike route safe and comfortable for all road users.

    - Jenny

  • Share Is population density and RTD W line access being considered when deciding where to build protected bike lanes? According to the map, none of the RTD W line stations besides Garrison are getting North/South protected bike lanes. And Garrison still has R1 zoning abutting the station. Would it be worth considering adding North/South protected bike lanes to the station areas of Lamar, Wadsworth, Sheridan, and Oak? Those areas have high population densities within their walkshed (or bikeshed), but don't seem to be getting protected lanes to key destinations along Colfax or North of Colfax. Thanks! on Facebook Share Is population density and RTD W line access being considered when deciding where to build protected bike lanes? According to the map, none of the RTD W line stations besides Garrison are getting North/South protected bike lanes. And Garrison still has R1 zoning abutting the station. Would it be worth considering adding North/South protected bike lanes to the station areas of Lamar, Wadsworth, Sheridan, and Oak? Those areas have high population densities within their walkshed (or bikeshed), but don't seem to be getting protected lanes to key destinations along Colfax or North of Colfax. Thanks! on Twitter Share Is population density and RTD W line access being considered when deciding where to build protected bike lanes? According to the map, none of the RTD W line stations besides Garrison are getting North/South protected bike lanes. And Garrison still has R1 zoning abutting the station. Would it be worth considering adding North/South protected bike lanes to the station areas of Lamar, Wadsworth, Sheridan, and Oak? Those areas have high population densities within their walkshed (or bikeshed), but don't seem to be getting protected lanes to key destinations along Colfax or North of Colfax. Thanks! on Linkedin Email Is population density and RTD W line access being considered when deciding where to build protected bike lanes? According to the map, none of the RTD W line stations besides Garrison are getting North/South protected bike lanes. And Garrison still has R1 zoning abutting the station. Would it be worth considering adding North/South protected bike lanes to the station areas of Lamar, Wadsworth, Sheridan, and Oak? Those areas have high population densities within their walkshed (or bikeshed), but don't seem to be getting protected lanes to key destinations along Colfax or North of Colfax. Thanks! link

    Is population density and RTD W line access being considered when deciding where to build protected bike lanes? According to the map, none of the RTD W line stations besides Garrison are getting North/South protected bike lanes. And Garrison still has R1 zoning abutting the station. Would it be worth considering adding North/South protected bike lanes to the station areas of Lamar, Wadsworth, Sheridan, and Oak? Those areas have high population densities within their walkshed (or bikeshed), but don't seem to be getting protected lanes to key destinations along Colfax or North of Colfax. Thanks!

    zbholman asked about 1 month ago

    Yes, RTD W Line access was a consideration when building our proposed network. In terms of North/South separated bike lanes specifically, Garrison and Pierce are the only roads in those areas with speeds and volumes that come anywhere close to justifying a separated bike lane. (Typically separation is recommended for streets with 7,000+ ADT and 85% speeds above 35mph.) Separated bike lanes are not feasible on Wadsworth or Sheridan, so these stations can most comfortably be accessed by an adjacent North/South neighborhood bikeway and the W Line trail. In lieu of separated bike lanes, Lamar and Oak streets also have nearby proposed neighborhood bikeways if the standard bike lanes on these roads are uncomfortable.

    Population density as a specific metric was not considered as heavily as destination access and distance between bike facilities, but if demand for bicycle facilities shows a strong geographic pattern in the coming years as development continues and the network is built out then it would probably be more heavily considered in subsequent updates.

    We appreciate your insight as always. Please don’t hesitate to comment on the interactive map with any corridor-specific insight as well!

    - Jenny

  • Share I would like the ditch trail that connects Addenbrooke, Green Gables, and Jewell parks to be developed with at least road base. This also connnects up to the existing trail to Kendrick Lake. on Facebook Share I would like the ditch trail that connects Addenbrooke, Green Gables, and Jewell parks to be developed with at least road base. This also connnects up to the existing trail to Kendrick Lake. on Twitter Share I would like the ditch trail that connects Addenbrooke, Green Gables, and Jewell parks to be developed with at least road base. This also connnects up to the existing trail to Kendrick Lake. on Linkedin Email I would like the ditch trail that connects Addenbrooke, Green Gables, and Jewell parks to be developed with at least road base. This also connnects up to the existing trail to Kendrick Lake. link

    I would like the ditch trail that connects Addenbrooke, Green Gables, and Jewell parks to be developed with at least road base. This also connnects up to the existing trail to Kendrick Lake.

    MikeM asked 2 months ago

    This is a valid idea that our Community Resources department has brought up in the past, and is a great little trail for neighborhood joggers, dog-walkers, and more. Unfortunately, paving it as a shared use trail would bring up some complications with the ditch company who owns the majority of the land, as well as the adjacent neighbors who would be affected by a more robust transportation facility. The idea would need to be well vetted and discussed in a public forum before being documented in a city plan, and since this is a transportation-focused plan and recreational trails are most frequently managed/planned by Community Resources and Parks, we will not be going through that process as part of this Plan update—but do know that it is on our radar and we appreciate you sharing the idea and confirming that there is demand. 

    I would encourage you to check back on this page in early October to provide your feedback on our proposed updates to the existing bicycle network, since you seem to have valuable insight on the connectivity around these neighborhoods! 

    - Jenny

  • Share Any thought on snow removal???? on Facebook Share Any thought on snow removal???? on Twitter Share Any thought on snow removal???? on Linkedin Email Any thought on snow removal???? link

    Any thought on snow removal????

    Mr. Tom asked 3 months ago

    Thank you for pointing out that maintaining our bicycle facilities year-round is an important part of creating a bikeable city!  

    Bike lanes citywide are typically plowed to the best extent possible while the adjacent roadway is cleared. In cases where there is an attached sidewalk or on-street parking directly adjacent to a bike lane, the bike lane may only be partially plowed in order not to bury the sidewalk or any parked cars; in these cases, Lakewood Public Works aims to provide a minimum operable space of 2 feet. In addition, we have identified key bike routes that the City is committed to keeping most consistently clear, a map of which can be found at Lakewood.org/Bicycling in the Winter Cycling section. Currently the uploaded map is from the 2023-24 snow season, but the upcoming winter will likely look similar if not the same. The key connections identified during the current Bike Plan update will also be used to inform this map in the future.

    Snow clearing for the city’s new separated bike lanes will work differently since the physical buffer between the bike lane and the rest of the road prevents regular plows from accessing the bike lane. Separated bike lanes will all be plowed separately with scaled-down plowing equipment by the same team that clears many of the City’s off-street paths. You can find more information about separated bike lanes, including maintenance, at LakewoodTogether.org/SeparatedBikeLanes. 

    – Jenny

  • Share Is the planning commission being included on this? I think that zoning and land use heavily impacts whether people are willing to use bikes as transportation. If we continue separating uses, then that means people need to travel far distances to meet their needs. Mixed use zoning, walking, and biking all go hand in hand and lead to more environmentally friendly, fiscally sustainable, and safe neighborhoods. on Facebook Share Is the planning commission being included on this? I think that zoning and land use heavily impacts whether people are willing to use bikes as transportation. If we continue separating uses, then that means people need to travel far distances to meet their needs. Mixed use zoning, walking, and biking all go hand in hand and lead to more environmentally friendly, fiscally sustainable, and safe neighborhoods. on Twitter Share Is the planning commission being included on this? I think that zoning and land use heavily impacts whether people are willing to use bikes as transportation. If we continue separating uses, then that means people need to travel far distances to meet their needs. Mixed use zoning, walking, and biking all go hand in hand and lead to more environmentally friendly, fiscally sustainable, and safe neighborhoods. on Linkedin Email Is the planning commission being included on this? I think that zoning and land use heavily impacts whether people are willing to use bikes as transportation. If we continue separating uses, then that means people need to travel far distances to meet their needs. Mixed use zoning, walking, and biking all go hand in hand and lead to more environmentally friendly, fiscally sustainable, and safe neighborhoods. link

    Is the planning commission being included on this? I think that zoning and land use heavily impacts whether people are willing to use bikes as transportation. If we continue separating uses, then that means people need to travel far distances to meet their needs. Mixed use zoning, walking, and biking all go hand in hand and lead to more environmentally friendly, fiscally sustainable, and safe neighborhoods.

    zbholman asked 7 months ago

    Thanks for the insightful question. At this stage in the project the Planning Commission is not formally involved, but we will take that into consideration. The project team does include Lakewood planning staff who are involved in matters related to zoning and land use, so the interaction between those and bikeability is not being disregarded.

    - Jenny

Page last updated: 18 Nov 2024, 03:39 PM