Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF AUGUST 29, 2024
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 4
Lakewood commemorates its first separated bike lanes STAFF REPORT
The City of Lakewood now has separated bike lanes installed on three thoroughfares. City officials performed a ribbon cutting on Aug. 14, opening the first lanes. Lakewood City Council member Isabel Cruz led a pack of bike riders down the road for the very first time. “Lakewood’s new separated bike lanes represent our commitment to a future where transportation is safer, accessible and inclusive to all road users,” Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom said. “By installing these bike lanes, we are ensuring that our city supports a variety of transportation options for all residents.” The city staff put together a fact sheet about separated bike lanes. Here are a few highlights from that list: • The lanes were funded by $350,000 from the city’s general fund. According to the fact sheet, the general fund comes mostly from sales taxes paid by Lakewood shoppers. • The first separated bike lanes are on Denver West Parkway, on Garrison Street from West Jewell to West Alameda avenues and on a section of Harlan Street near Alameda. • The lanes are an upgrade to previous “buffered bike lanes.” The new separated lanes have plastic curbing and posts to keep bikers safe as they travel around the city. These are only the first installment of safer bike lanes in Lakewood. For more information on the project, the proposed future plans and more, visit Lakewoodtogether. org/separatedbikelanes.
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‘Don’t be daunted’: Why climbing in Colorado is for everyone Expert tips on where to start, breaking misconceptions and more BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Perhaps a more captivating piece of evidence that humans truly descended from apes is our natural inclination to climb. We see something big and we want to conquer it, stand on top of it and say that we did. From ascending neighborhood trees as children to summiting mountains when searching for ourselves in our 20s, something about reaching the top is awe-inspiring. A big misconception about rock climbing, according to a local expert, is that it’s much more difficult than hiking — not everyone can do it, or it’s too hard, requires experience, etc. But Golden Mountain Guides founder and owner Ben Coryell said that is “totally false.” SEE CLIMBING, P2
A climber ascends a frozen waterfall in the winter. Golden Mountain Guides provides guided rock and ice climbing, as well as mountaineering, regular hiking and COURTESY OF GOLDEN MOUNTAIN GUIDES tackling 13ers and 14ers.
HIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH STAKES Mountain emergency response teams are on the scene P16
WESTMINSTER JEFFCOTRANSCRIPT.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA