Bikes vs. Scooters: Some Denver commuters, including bicyclists, are concerned that scooters will create even more traffic on already congested streets.
Scooters have become an alternative to cars for many people,
especially city residents with quick commutes. In 2018, Denver made over a
thousand electric scooters (e-scooters) publicly available to citizens via
companies such as Bird and Lime. Since, scooters are becoming an increasingly
popular mode of transportation. With their increasing popularity lies a traffic
jam and possible safety issues on sidewalks. Denver Public Works is considering
a city ordinance that will ban e-scooters from sidewalks and allow them to be
legally operated in the bike lane. This legislation has Denver citizens
expressing polarizing viewpoints regarding where the scooters should operate.
While some residents are in favor of scooters scooting left to the bike lanes,
other citizens are opposed and offer their own safety concerns.
After reviewing citizens’ expressed opinions about the
scooter program, Denver Public Works is considering the ordinance in an effort
to increase the safety of people both on and off the scooters. With the recent
influx of public scooters, insurance has had little time to catch up.
“Currently, there is no mandatory liability insurance that e-scooter riders
need to carry,” Daniel Foster of Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP
informed Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. This leaves potential victims of
scooter riders with little recourse to retrieve compensation for injuries.
This and other factors prevail while Denver Public Works
carefully considers solutions. When speaking with the Chronicle, Public Works
Chief of Staff Nicholas Williams expressed that, “the main benefit of this
ordinance change is that it will minimize instances of scooter/ pedestrian
conflicts.” Williams went on to say, “the most common complaint I receive from
residents involves a scooter rider traveling at a high rate of speed and
endangering a pedestrian.” E-scooters can reach a speed of 15 mph.
Popular Mode Of Transportation: Last year, e-scooters zoomed past station-based rental bikes as the most popular form of shared “micro-mobility” transportation, with rental companies like Lime and Bird renting 85,000 e-scooters across the country, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials.
This isn’t the first time legislation has been proposed for
the e-scooters. Former Denver Councilperson Mary Beth Susman sponsored the
original bill banning scooters from sidewalks. Susman admitted she was unsure
as to what this new ordinance offered but ventured a guess that it would “get
rid of” the stipulation of the original bill that stated scooters could use
sidewalks if posted speed limits exceeded 30 mph. This would seem to be the
case, as the new ordinance proposes a total ban of e-scooters from sidewalks.
Most Denver residents who spoke with the Chronicle were in
favor of the bill. Denver resident Carson Cameron expressed that scooters “clog
up the sidewalks” and hinder accessibility for people who utilize wheelchairs.
If scooter riders used the bike lanes, it would provide more accessible space
to move around. This sentiment was echoed by fellow resident, Sarah, who also
utilizes a wheelchair. E-scooters are technically still allowed on the sidewalk
if riders are traveling less than 6 mph, and their use can limit available
space for people with physical disabilities or limitations. In highly populated
areas such as downtown and Denver University, this is a concern.
Another pro of e-scooters being relegated to bike lanes is
that more citizens may be encouraged to ride their scooters, thus reducing car
emissions such as smog and other air pollutants. This is the case for resident
Jenn Vaught. “I would ride more,” Vaught responded to the Chronicle when asked
about the ordinance. Car emissions directly impact the ground ozone level and
reduce air quality. This affects everyone, particularly people who are older or
have asthma or other breathing concerns. During summer months, air quality
alerts frequently report moderate to unhealthy levels of air quality.
E-scooters may not be appreciated on sidewalks, but safe operation in bike
lanes may improve the air we breathe.
The ordinance should also ensure scooters remain in
congruence with other transportation and vehicle laws, which is important to
some Denver citizens. This was confirmed by Public Works Chief Williams who
said, “it will simplify the rules of the road to mirror those of bicycles,
which most people are already familiar with.” Resident Brenna agreed with the
idea of scooter riders following similar laws to cyclers and voiced concern for
people who operate the scooters intoxicated. If e-scooters were held to similar
standards as other vehicles, then citizens can better understand the
regulations of operating the transportation devices.
Readily Available: Companies such as Lime have electric scooters publicly available to riders in Denver.
Not all Denver residents are in favor of scooter legislation
and have their own safety concerns if e-scooters are permanently banned from
sidewalks. Some Denver commuters are concerned that scooters will create even
more traffic on already congested streets. A negative of the bill expressed by
citizens is that strictly relegating scooters to bike lanes and roads may cause
an increase in vehicle accidents. The scooters have been known to cause
accidents and most recently, a person died in a scooter related accident on
August 4, 2019. The victim, Cameron Hagan, was struck by a car while attempting
to cross the street on a scooter. He marks the first scooter-related death in
Denver.
Some citizens feel e-scooters may simply be too slow to keep
up with traffic flow. But research shows this may not be the case. Bike riders
average around 12 mph in city bike lanes, which e-scooters can exceed. This
would mean that scooter riders can at least keep up with typical bike lane
traffic flow. But some cyclers don’t want the extra traffic. “I just think it’s
already too congested,” Denver resident Michael Lewis said. Michael expressed
frustration when commuting around the Park Avenue area. “The scooters would
only add to that,” he concluded.
E-scooter riders who litter pose another concern. Although
leaving a scooter on the sidewalk unattended is not allowed, many people do it.
It contributes to clogging up the sidewalks and hindering accessibility,
mentioned prior. If scooter riders were banned from sidewalks permanently,
there could be an increase of scooters left in bike lanes or in traffic, which
again could lead to an increase of motor vehicle accidents.
While the ordinance to ban e-scooters from sidewalks is
well-intentioned and for many, long overdue, other Denver citizens pose
practical questions to the logistics of adding another transportation device to
the bike lane. There are numerous positive aspects of riding e-scooters
including but not limited to decreased pollution, and increased sidewalk
accessibility. But there are also cons such as increased road traffic and
increased accidents. Regardless of where individual Denverites stand, the
consensus on both sides is safety first. The safety of citizens on the road
should not be compromised for the safety of citizens on the sidewalk and vice
versa. Citizens for and against the bill want to feel safe, and they want
others to feel and be safe as well.
For the last eight-plus years the Denver City Council served
no earthly purpose whatsoever. Thirteen individual council members drew six
figure salaries, had gold plated health insurance and pension plans, along with
expensive office space and assistants, but did absolutely nothing in return
other than rubber stamp everything that a figure head Mayor and the high
density developers who controlled him, put before them.
Councilmember Candi CdeBaca: New Sheriff In Town
Citizens by the scores appeared before the City Council to
beg them for relief from the depravations of the merciless business cartels
such as the CEO driven and Orwellian named “Colorado Concern” and the rapacious
“Downtown Denver Partnership” but to no avail. The City Council even decided,
with the Mayor’s support, to essentially legalize (subject to state approval)
heroin sales to all, including children, under the rubric of caring “safe
injection sites.”
On the night of the second City Council meeting since the
2019 Spring municipal election there was nothing on the agenda which would
cause the Mayor and his staff to expect anything but the normal supine behavior
from the City Council that they had so long enjoyed. But on that night,
however, newly-elected City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca arose to object to
utterly mundane contracts to two outside contractors who run halfway houses for
approximately 500 convicts in the city. The money for the contracts was not
even from Denver, but rather the State. CdeBaca objected to the contracts on
the grounds that the contracts were with companies whose parent entities
provided detention facilities for ICE, and the fact that she did not like
for-profit companies making money off doing services which are normally
performed by government.
She stated she did not expect support from a single other
councilperson. To the shock of one and all, a majority of the Council supported
her, and the contracts were canceled. The cancellations shook the political
insider world of Denver. If a run-of-the-mill, non-controversial contract could
be cancelled at the whim of a single councilperson, how safe are the literally
hundreds of workie-workie contracts of the Mayor’s friends and city lobbyists?
Is anybody’s piece of the municipal corporate gravy train safe?
After that meeting came the equally shocking proposal by
Council President Jolon Clark of a $43 million carbon tax on businesses to
fund, inter alia, a city climate change office. Clark and his six Council
co-sponsors are a majority on the 13-person Council. The Mayor and his lackies
at the bought-off Denver Post, howled. How dare Clark act as if the City
Council was a democratically elected legislative body. Notwithstanding the
protestations, the Finance and Governance Committee approved passing on the
proposals to the full Council by a 4 to 3 margin with CdeBaca, Hines, Gilmore
and Clark voting in favor and holdovers, Ortega, Kniech and Black voting
against.
As a practical matter we don’t support either the
cancellations of the halfway house contracts or the carbon tax on businesses,
the latter of which has to be approved by the voters even if passed at the
Council level. But far more important to us than the actual merits of these
actions is the fact that a majority of the City Council are no longer willing
to act as a doormat for a corrupt Mayor and his backers. We are hoping that the
new majority will also oppose the rape of Park Hill Golf Course by Westside
Investments, LLC., and the destruction of the Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods
by the ill-conceived and unbelievably corrupt I-70 expansion, along with
hundreds of other projects designed to destroy what was once a truly beautiful
city and its neighborhoods.
Is it possible that representative democracy is returning to
the Mile-High City at long last? We certainly hope so.
Childhood obesity in the U.S. affects nearly 13.7 million
children and adolescents nationwide — that’s about 1 out of every 5 kids,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recognition of
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in September, we’re sharing
information about obesity and seven ways we can all help kids and improve their
health. Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic, and it’s imperative we give
kids the support they need to be healthy and thrive.
First, Why Is Obesity Bad For Everyone — But Especially
Kids?
Carrying excess weight at any age can have grave
implications. But for children, the implications can be emotional as well as
physical. Children with obesity are more likely to be bullied and teased, and
suffer from mental health issues, social isolation and low self-esteem.
Physically, obesity in children can lead to type 2 diabetes,
heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and asthma.
There also might be subtle indicators that a child’s weight
may be impacting other aspects of their health:
• Poor
physical endurance or ability to keep up with friends
• Shortness
of breath with exertion
• Snoring or
long pauses in breathing while sleeping
• Consistent
complaints of pain in their knees, ankles or hips
• Swelling or
fluid accumulation in their lower legs or feet
Adding to these issues, children with obesity are more
likely to struggle with obesity as adults, contributing further to risk factors
for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
What Causes Obesity?
There are many risk factors that can lead to obesity. Some
involve family genetics or hormonal imbalances, or even genetic disorders.
There are also many risk factors that are environmental, such as diet,
lifestyle, and physical activity. Imbalances in any of these can result in
excess weight and obesity.
Income, as a social determinant of health, can also play a
role. The CDC reports that the prevalence of obesity is almost 10% higher in
children from low-income families versus high-income families.
Despite these many risk factors, in its simplest terms,
obesity is caused by eating too many calories, eating too much of the wrong
types of calories, and exercising too little. Understanding this, there are
things we can all do to take action to fight childhood obesity and help kids
reach their full potential.
1. Start with
the drinks. This is where kids tend to consume excess calories without even
realizing it. Work with your child to decrease the number of high-sugar drinks,
including soda and juice, to one per day.
2. Teach your
child about lifestyle choices. This includes eating appropriate portion sizes,
seeking out balanced meals, and increasing physical activity. It helps to set a
good example — kids are watching and will mirror how you prepare food and eat.
3. Involve
children in meal planning, letting them choose from a variety of healthy meals.
Then take them to the store with you. Have them be part of the shopping, preparing,
and cooking process so they feel empowered.
4. Make healthy
eating and being active a family goal where everyone participates and takes an
active interest. Make good choices together, and after dinners, take a family
walk or play outside.
5. Start
healthy eating habits as soon as you can, as early as ages one to five. This is
when children are starting to eat solid foods and are developing their palates.
6. Cut down on
electronics use, including TV, cell phones, computers, and gaming consoles each
day. Or offer “trades” with your kids — perhaps one walk with the family pet
earns them one hour of screen time.
7. Encourage
eating meals and snacks at the dinner table as often as possible. This makes
meals a family event and discourages binging or mindless snacking on their own.
Cami is a nutritionist, DTR (Dietary Technician,
Registered), and a Certified Health and Wellness Lifestyle Coach. She is
involved in many YMCA programs, including Diabetes Prevention, Healthy Weight
and Your Child, and Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring. Her passion is showing
others how healthy habits are achievable and one of the greatest ways to feel
your best.
It’s hard to believe that September is here: A new school
year is underway along with plenty of fall fun. This month is chock full of
great activities indoors and out to celebrate the changing of the seasons. It
is better to forget that the days are getting shorter and nights chillier so
you’ll enjoy the sight as leaves begin changing colors.
Green slowly gives way to reds, oranges and yellows,
creating brightly colored trees. September will certainly try its best to help
us forget this summer’s heat wave.
Here are our colorful fall choices for shopping, dining and
entertainment so pumpkin pies and cozy September songs swing us on a slow slide
into winter:
3 Jump into
fall by rappelling down the 38-stories at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center
to raise money for the Cancer League. The Over The Edge fundraising event is
Sept. 5-7. Information: 303-534-4317.
3 Swing, sway
into September seeing the legendary musical Miss Saigon playing at the Buell
Theater, Sept. 10-22. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 Make it a
September to remember at Denver Jazz Fest in the DCPA Complex downtown Sept.
13-16. Information: 303-882-6693.
3 Slip into
the cool season at the Bridge Project’s Wine, Stein & Dine benefit at the
Cable Center Sept. 14, 5 p.m. Information: 303-871-2651.
3 As summer
turns to fall, make the month of September your turning point by joining the
Glendale Sports Center. No contracts or joining fees to enjoy sports, art,
music and dance. Information: 303-639-4711.
3 Hey hey hey,
you’ll sing every day dining for breakfast-lunch at Morning Story. The dazzling
décor dances the clouds away so you’ll come back. Do remember it’s in the
Leetsdale Center. Information: 303-577-9050.
3 Join
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night Walk fundraiser in
Wash Park Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m. Information: 720-440-8620.
3 Bookmark
Sept. 28 for the Shakespeare themed Booklovers Ball dinner-dance at Denver
Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-2051.
3 Soar to new
heights this September by attending Warren Village’s annual Taking Flight Gala
being held at the Ritz-Carlton downtown. The Sept. 28 evening begins at a
cocktail reception with open bar. Attendees will also enjoy a gourmet seated
dinner, a live and silent auction plus live entertainment, 6-11 p.m. All
proceeds from the gala will benefit the families at Warren Village.
Information: 303-321-2245.
There’s something about this month that causes us to look
back and reflect. Maybe it’s the change of the seasons, the loss of the warmth
of summer or that long, slow slide toward wintertime. Nevertheless, there
always seems to be a certain mix of wistfulness, nostalgia and reflection that
is unlike any other month of the year.
September is when the sun takes a step back, leaves begin to
lull themselves to sleep as autumn awakens. It’s the second spring when every
leaf becomes a flower.
Earth, Wind & Fire’s September is this month’s grooviest
song due to its rhythm and lilt. The four chords in the chorus just keep moving
forward and never land anywhere, much like the four seasons. It’s the end of
summer, the beginning of fall and transition from warm to cool. Ba de ya, say
do you remember stars stole the night away?
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
