Central City Parkway Opens to Bicyclists

City Welcomes Bicycle-powered Visitors

Colorado’s newest mountain road opened to bicyclists for the first time Monday, September 26, ten months after opening to motor vehicles. The Central City Parkway, featuring eight foot paved shoulders, connects the town with the I-70 corridor.  The City Council voted to lift the ban after months of study and education on bicycle transportation, recreation, and tourism.

Bicycle Colorado testified in support of ending the ban. Director Dan Grunig stated, “Bicyclists and motorists co-exist on thousands of miles of roads across the state. We applaud Central City for encouraging healthy transportation and adding a new riding attraction to Colorado’s booming bicycle tourism industry.”

According to a Colorado Department of Transportation study, the bicycling industry generates $1.2 billion for the Colorado economy, including $167 million from bicycle tourism.

The city constructed short bicycle paths which allow cyclists to connect with the each side of the Parkway via Virginia Canyon Road. This required bike route avoids the stretch of Parkway nearest Central City which lacks paved shoulders.

Until now, Central City has been known to bicyclists as a dead-end. The popular Peak-to-Peak Highway would drop bicyclists into town without a paved route for an exit. Bicyclists were forced to turn around and return the way they came.  Now riders may connect to the I-70 corridor and the routes around Idaho Springs and Evergreen via the Parkway.

Local bicycling groups Bike Jeffco and Team Evergreen provided route ideas and ride data to the Council during their study period.

Map courtesy of Bike Jeffco