Denver residents had a chance last week to crown one bike lane the dumbest of them all during a Westword poll that reeled in dozens of responses. The poll's question, "What's the dumbest bike lane in Denver?," received 34 responses on X and 124 on Facebook.
Unfortunately for Denver, the most common answer by a wide margin turned out to be "all of them," with twenty people claiming that the city isn't home to a single well-executed bike lane. A few focused their complaints on downtown, with one Facebook user writing that "downtown has too many lanes that just end randomly and either push you into traffic or onto a sidewalk.
Here's what Denver cyclists wrote about specific streets that they believe have the dumbest bike lanes:
Broadway
On Facebook, Brad Evans wrote "the $15m that the City of Denver recently spent on the South Broadway bike lane is probably the WORST because it goes no where and did nothing to improve the 'place'."
Responding to Evans, Troy De Baca agreed, writing "that's what happens when you give decision makers who 'ride' the [lanes] $M's instead of due diligence with the people who actually own bikes."
"Broadway. And it’s not even close," wrote @sqwirrelofrage on X.
"South Broadway by far," @southstands303 said on X
"Broadway two-way is pretty dumb," wrote X user @pixelform, referring to the two-way bike lane on South Broadway that was finished by the City of Denver in April after two years of construction.
Responding to Evans, Troy De Baca agreed, writing "that's what happens when you give decision makers who 'ride' the [lanes] $M's instead of due diligence with the people who actually own bikes."
"Broadway. And it’s not even close," wrote @sqwirrelofrage on X.
"South Broadway by far," @southstands303 said on X
"Broadway in general. Bicyclists and motorists alike have yet to figure it out," wrote Monte Aaron on Facebook. "I've seen a ton of people narrowly avoid death."
"I never take Broadway," Sophie Scholl wrote responding to Aaron. "Bannock [Street] feels much safer."
"I never take Broadway," Sophie Scholl wrote responding to Aaron. "Bannock [Street] feels much safer."
"Broadway two-way is pretty dumb," wrote X user @pixelform, referring to the two-way bike lane on South Broadway that was finished by the City of Denver in April after two years of construction.
15th StreetDenver west from 20th to Denver West
— L (@l29923941) September 5, 2024
They made a 4 lane Rd 2 lanes . Put up barrier which means we can't pull over for 🚒 🚑.
And it doesn't go anywhere. It just makes office park traffic worse. (Lakewood wants fed $$) pic.twitter.com/hNXZd9mgmZ
On Facebook, Sophie Scholl wrote: "15th Street LoDo. When you're not dodging tourists entering the hotel driveways, the lane suddenly ends at Larimer [Street] and you have to rapidly get over two lanes."
"15th street bc it just ends," wrote @citizenj__ on X.
Brittany Axner wrote: "I am not a fan of the protected bike lane on 15th [Street] downtown suddenly disappearing, that is on the south side and then once it is gone bikes are supposed to share the lane on the far north side."
"It disappears at Platte River? I think they want bikes to move to the Cherry Creek path. You're right though," B Jean Clayton replied on Facebook.
Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Aaron Wong posted on Facebook that "we have all these great east-west lanes at MLK, 26th [Avenue], 23rd [Avenue], Montview [Boulevard] and no easy safe connection to Cherry Creek Trail."
On X, @freeeeeeeda_bro called out "the unprotected [lane] from MLK and Colorado Blvd. towards Monaco given that you are taking your own life into your hands when using it."
Central Park Boulevard
Central Park Boulevard
Monte Aaron wrote in his Facebook: "Central Park blvd going south because cars have to cross through the bike lane at multiple points to make turns at busy intersections. Kind of defeats the point of a protected lane if cars have to use it at the most dangerous spots."
Federal Boulevard
On Facebook, Alex Lin wrote: "South bound Federal past 6th right lane. Oh wait. That’s a death trap. My bad."
29th Avenue
Grant Street
On Facebook, Alex Lin wrote: "South bound Federal past 6th right lane. Oh wait. That’s a death trap. My bad."
29th Avenue
"I love feeling safer biking in Denver and appreciate the bike lanes so much! I don’t love on 29th [Avenue] when crossing Speer towards Zuni," Kelsey Barton posted on Facebook, "how the bike lane disappears into the car lane for half a block, it’s dangerous!"
"Are you absolutely serious? The dumbest one is on Grant St that is only two blocks long and should go the entire length of Grant through Cap Hill," wrote @rlyjohnconnor on X.
Blake Street
If you're a cyclist and want to give your two cents on Denver's bike lanes, the city is still listening. Residents can submit feedback on a new Denver bike map that reveals ideas for improving biking in the city, such as new bikeways and connecting more of the city's bike lanes and trails. The survey runs until September 23.
X user @TomDorsa wrote that in Lower Downtown, the bike lane that goes along Blake Street "abruptly swings all the way across 17th Street in the most dangerous fashion imaginable."
Bryce_Chandler agreed, writing "It is so weird! I mean, I do like getting a chance to swing closer to Slice Works for a whiff of pizza, but it’s so bizarre."
16th Avenue
On X, @pixelform wrote: "16th street east of downtown is also dumb. Any lane that has those bumps to keep cars out also keeps bikes from being [able] to freely enter and exit when conditions require... like when ding dongs leave their trash bins in the lanes."
Eighth Avenue
Niccolo Casewit on Facebook named “8th Ave parkway from Federal Blvd. to Knox CT rinkidink plastic bollards and all.
Elizabeth Teng responded, saying “really what were they thinking? Who felt good about getting paid for that?"
Casewit then suggested the lane could be a “pop up demonstration project photo opportunity.”
Bryce_Chandler agreed, writing "It is so weird! I mean, I do like getting a chance to swing closer to Slice Works for a whiff of pizza, but it’s so bizarre."
16th Avenue
On X, @pixelform wrote: "16th street east of downtown is also dumb. Any lane that has those bumps to keep cars out also keeps bikes from being [able] to freely enter and exit when conditions require... like when ding dongs leave their trash bins in the lanes."
Eighth Avenue
Niccolo Casewit on Facebook named “8th Ave parkway from Federal Blvd. to Knox CT rinkidink plastic bollards and all.
Elizabeth Teng responded, saying “really what were they thinking? Who felt good about getting paid for that?"
Casewit then suggested the lane could be a “pop up demonstration project photo opportunity.”
