 What do we think about the film? Beautiful. So we're gonna get right to it because we don't have a whole lot of time here and we have a lot to cover Allow me to introduce our panelists. We have Kami Edson youth transportation program manager with Boulder County's transportation planning office and Jose Maldonado VP of marketing with the nonprofit people for bikes with over 25 years of bicycle industry experience Taylor Wicklund local bicycle advocate born and raised here in Longmont Taylor And last but not least Phil Greenwald. He's worked With the city for over 23 years and has 30 plus years of transportation planning experience Let's welcome our panel So Jose, can you tell us a little bit about people for bikes and their role with this film? Sure, by the way, thank you. It's an honor and a privilege to be here with y'all today. It's Really great to be here in Longmont People for bikes was approached by anthill films. If you don't know who they are they really made their mark in bike specific films sort of like Warren Miller on of bike bike films and They asked us if we wanted to support this film. They had a clue as to like what the theme was And really it was around the power of the bike, which was really demonstrated really well Throughout the movie. So we really didn't know the scope and scale of the project We just knew that hey, this is this is a film. We'd like to make we'd love your involvement Let's talk a little bit about more about what the power of the bike means to folks Across not just the US but all over the world and you got to see some of that during the film. We were Instrumental in making the connection with Megan hotman Megan is an ambassador of ours or really good friend of ours and Megan and I have developed a Great relationship together, but you saw her story and her influence in the state of Colorado, but locally Megan has just been extraordinary and just an incredible voice for all of you for all of us Not just in the movie but in her in her life's work. So really incredible Can you tell us a little bit about how the film kind of resonates with people for bikes? Mission absolutely. I mean Again on full display as we like to call the power of the bicycle really helps connect communities Provide us with better health at the state and local it just really Demonstrates the power of what could what could happen if you do connect all these communities and That's really what resonated With us our fellow your fellow panelists any takeaways for you guys um Well, I think what I really enjoyed by the movie was you know, it The bike can be used anywhere It doesn't matter what you're doing it, you know, I wrote, you know anywhere it transcends culture helps mental health safety Opportunity and not even mentioning climate and all the benefits that it does with that but but it so it's a great societal benefit for Everyone in the city one of the things that I noticed was how Human centered it focused on that it wasn't about the infrastructure or the mode as much But it was about all the human reasons why people choose the transportation choices they do and that If we don't as planners don't pay attention to that We're going to miss the boat right miss the road miss the trail miss the path whatever it might be But that whether like you were mentioning its mental health its physical health its Access to employment or food or whatever it might be there are so many reasons that we need to pay attention to pay attention to That really connect with the human inside so I thought they did a beautiful job capturing the humanness of why bikes matter I Think I was a little bit more selfish I was trying to think of how I relate to my bike and so How small it is compared to all these people who are in the film, so I really want to put more emphasis onto my biking And I do love my bike a lot, and I use it quite a bit But those people really kind of blew it out of the water for me as far as how much they really Relyed depended on those different aspects of the bicycle so Really opened my eyes and beautiful film, so we really appreciated all the work that was done with that so thanks Jose, can you tell us tell us a little bit about? The report card or the scorecard that people for bikes puts out there and how longmont has done Yeah, that's a that's a great question for those of you don't know every year we put out a How your city ranks and it's something that we're measuring across Across the country and actually in 2021 22 we introduced a global version Of city ratings so we're we recognize that and you saw Amsterdam in the film But we recognize that in order for us to benchmark we also have to benchmark up against the best Cities in the world not just in our country So congratulations Longmont 2023 was in the top 10 for a mid-sized City so you all should give yourselves a round of applause especially this panel here Because you all have a hand in crafting that or in creating that For for added context in 2022 longmont was 88th, so again I This is a big deal for you all I don't feel the excitement quite like I feel it here So again, we ranked cities across across country thousands of cities And so this is a this is a great accolade for longmont and if you if you haven't seen the story that we Wrote about longmont you can go to the people for bike site look over in our new section and If you search longmont, you'll probably that story will pop up, but it was really great And thank you for Phil for your involvement there, too How do you how did we launch from how did we rock it from 88th into the top 10? Was it all Phil Another great question. I think what I would say is there was a commitment. So there's when we talk about political will all of those things people in this room that care About multimodal use and just being able to get to parks schools medical assistance The grocery store all of these things play a part in in connecting communities and I think There's opportunities. So if one of the things that we know so your score was a 59 We know that when a city gets to that 50 score they start to really create this flywheel effect and You know, I'm sure this panel will talk about what's coming up in some of the Infrastructure projects, but it's it really starts to get going and Once you get to that 50 range things start to happen and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens over the next couple of years here Can I just add real quick? I mean, please I look out into this room And I see the people that really made this work and and got us up to that next level I see a lot of the faces in this room of folks that were really committed to pushing the city into different realm of Bicycling we're not there yet I know a lot of you will tell me of the great things we can still do and I can't wait to hear them one We're outside with our panel with our booth But it really is looking out into this crowd and knowing there's a lot of a lot of missing faces too That people aren't here that had a lot to do with that that ranking going up. So appreciate that Taylor, how would you say as sort of the concerned citizen on the panel? How would you say long one is doing? well To be honest, I think we're doing really really well My experience. I'm not a I'm not your exercise cyclist going on the highway. I'm just commuting point a to point B I use my bike for work with a bike and trailer So so from my perspective going around the neighborhoods, I think it's it's quite good now However, there, you know, like, you know, our greenway is amazing However, there are gaps every once in a while. So, you know, sometimes the bike lane ends and it's like, oh, well, where do I go now? But then also I you know as a member of BIC we try to always argue for safety bit because and BIC is Bicycle issues committee. So, you know, and I always try to think safety first because At the end of the day safety is what will get more and more riders out Unless people out of their cars and enjoying life again. So, yeah Great. Thank you Phil, do you want to talk a little bit more about what Longmont's doing on the multimodal front? Yeah, I I do Had a feeling yeah, I think that's why I've been asked to come here today. Um, I Really think that we are trying to do some wonderful things I I think you saw it in the movie about separating the traffic the different modes and that's kind of the next Iteration now we when I first got here a bike lane was basically a parking lane It was one line one painted line if we were lucky to have that as far as a bicycle facility on a street we made sure that we Got two lines for the bicycle area and to delineate that from the parking area That was a big step at the time. So that was very interesting But we have so much further to go and we really do need to go to that next level of separating Having separate bicycle lanes and one of the projects that you'll see out in the hallway also is the Coffman Street multimodal plan which is talking about taking Coffman Street from Basically the St. Rain Greenway corridor down on the south end all the way up building a new section of road Street up all the way to 9th Avenue and Creating separated bike ways and separated bus ways and separated walking ways from the traffic That's already out there. So we're not going to impact the general lanes of traffic out there right now Or with this project we'll still keep two lanes of traffic But we'll also add the bus and bicycle facilities and make sure they're separated from each other So they don't have to share space. That's critical. And so of course there are places still where we do have to share space One of the great things from the movie. I thought was when the person said Oh, you know, I keep getting told that I I belong as a bicyclist up on the sidewalk Or I belong in a bike lane or by a ball belong on a trail and I just remember the impetus for 9th Avenue in our city for Providing some of those buffered bike lanes that you see out there today is those comments to people on Bicycles while they're trying to ride in the street you belong up on the sidewalk Well, no, we were supposed to be in the street And so that those comments led to that project being part of the system When we overlaid it and that's kind of what we do in the city is when we do these overlays We take another look at the striping and I think all these things and comments again from our bicycle issues committee Have led to and the transportation advisory board and the parks and rec advisory board and all the different council members Who come forward and say different things to us about hey, I heard this out in the community What can we do to change it have led to some of these separations that we see so far and we're Again want you to comments to figure out where we can make these Places better in in the future other places Kami, do you want to talk about the county's efforts to support? cities efforts to diversify Transit transportation Yeah, so I think I work for Boulder County and I think one of the great things about being a Municipal partner with other municipalities as right We all know we have to work together to get things done and when we were preparing for this panel We were going through all of the different projects We were working on and it kind of struck me how many we actually came up with where we're collaborating together that not Only what city of Longmont is focusing on but at the greater region regional level County level and even beyond that There are more planning documents now and more shared visions for all of us trying to make our networks connect And looks similarly so no matter where you're riding whether it's in Longmont or outside of Longmont to somewhere else There's going to be more connections safer connections and more similarity and what it looks like whether it's signage and things Like that now it's going to take a while to get there But I grew up here was a local just like he was and I've been hearing for years and years and years and years how On safe it is to ride between Longmont and Boulder Well, we're finally working on building a separated bikeway on Colorado 119 decades in the making decades and decades in the making but It will be a separated bikeway. It will be you know removed from the street So for those commuters or there's joy riders or those opportunities for the small Smaller rural communities in between Longmont and Boulder to have access to a greenway space. That's different from what they've known It's just a wonderful example of how the communities whether they're the big ones the small ones the mid-sized ones are all coming together To kind of work on this a shared project So Colorado 119 separated bikeway is a great example. We're also working on Highway 287 Which is goes from Longmont south towards Broomfield or Lafayette Lewisville And one of those the goals there is to have some separated spaces to buses separated from cars cars separated from bikes So not only can we improve traffic flow, but also give people those multimodal options So hopefully we will be reducing the number of cars when we're thinking about the environmental impact if we give people more choices To be multimodal, hopefully they will There's obviously some need and some opportunity to really look at the next generation too around How do we get more young people and families out riding their bike because we have a Generational gap from 40 50 years ago from how many people were riding their bikes to now So as we're building these great infrastructure Systems, I think there's an opportunity to really look at we have to focus on the behavior and the learning and the education That goes along with it so we can really bolster up that next generation of multimodal Users or bike riders or whatever it might be. So the county really loves working with the city of Longmont I think as staff teams. There's a great relationship Phil and his crew and the other departments within the city. They have great vision. We were happy to support the projects We have shared vision. So it makes it a lot easier and it's just exciting to see a number of these Sort of unbuilding ourselves un-engineering ourselves out of the problems that we internet engineered ourselves into and it's exciting to be Here as a part of that process to start addressing those physical changes that will lead to those behavioral changes Anything to add there In terms of working with the county well I was just gonna say it's great to have people like Cammy who actually live in Longmont because I think the county is Usually seen by people in Longmont as being very bolder centric. We've learned a lot of things from the city of Boulder as well And we work with them Equally, but it's great to have folks like Cammy who actually have grown up in Longmont and have that perspective to share with With with their colleagues in the county as well And you have a lot of people that you work with who also live in in Longmont So that's been wonderful too But I think they have that that view of what it means to be from Longmont and what it means to be here And what we're trying to do I think despite what sometimes the public thinks you know us and government workers We really are trying to do good stuff and really do care and we do want to make those positive changes We get it because we live in the same places So the same struggles that you all are dealing with and making complaints about we Encounter them and live them and experience them too. So we understand it It just doesn't happen overnight But it's exciting that some of these decade-old projects are finally coming to life like you said you hit that kind of Benchmark and the momentum goes and now these things that we've been talking about for years and years and years are finally going to happen And that's very exciting Taylor did you have anything you wanted to add I? See you with a notebook I do better when I you know write things down, but um You know, I think there there's what I'm hearing we do have great projects going on I'm super excited for Kauffman Bic has been heavily involved in our sometimes very stinging opinions on things but Also, I think it's very important for the public to wear that that you know these connections take time. It's a piecemeal approach We can demand As much as we want and we need that we need people to join Bic We need people to join bite-byes a go long when I see Scott Conlon here. Sorry we need people to speak to council representatives and and tab I'm on a transportation advisory board as Well, so we need public to show up and and really Not not just you know don't don't sit in your living room and complain come come and participate give us ideas Because you know it it takes a group so I Think that's a great segue into Some action actions that residents can take What can people do to move towards a more sustainable transportation? Future in the short term and then the longer term Jump feel free to jump in Well first then think outside your car It's a two ton death machine Wait and wait and hit someone so and then when you are forced to be in your car. Well Be much more aware You know sats don't don't turn right on a red light downtown. You're not supposed to but then also I Think start start imagining what what what can you do to one better the climate? So drive less so then ride a bike or walk I think You know also keep keeping tabs with what the city is working on where we're working on vision zero There'll be a citizen task force for that join that apply Get get your opinion heard You know in and all the organizations I mentioned before you know join You know we need help we need public Yeah, that's a great point. It's really about the community coming together and making these I Don't want to say demands, but it really is about what what do you want as a community to see and again? I know our council was very open to the idea that Let's hear those voices and what you need especially in this time of budget We're talking about projects right now And and we really need to hear the voices from the people about what those need to be also that what's coming up is We have a transportation mobility plan. That's going to really be that update for our Transportation system in the future. It's really talking about that next 25 years within Longmont So as that rolls out in the next couple months here, and you'll see it It's gonna we're obviously gonna be as the city Broadcasting that very loudly We'd really want to hear back from folks and if you can participate in any way possible There's going to be multiple ways of participation in that transportation mobility plan or TMP is what they call it to We we need to hear your voices and we need to hear what is important to you as a community So as that rolls out and as Taylor mentioned the vision zero task force as those things start to roll forward We'll need to hear from you on that So hopefully you'll stay connected and do more things maybe not at this level But there will be other ways to participate both both virtually and in person. So we hope you can make it Jose does people for bikes have anything have any suggestions? Oh Yeah So we we are the bike industries trade and advocacy organization we represent more than 320 coalition members brands. We also represent over 1.4 million people who are signed on to receiving a Lot of our emails action alerts We have we are on a mission to make the US the best place to ride a bike in the world and it takes people like y'all in this room to help do that and We have created a couple of tools one which you already know about you've heard about City ratings our program The other one is the great bike infrastructure project which was released this July and what that does It's a bold step towards our our goal But what it does is it helps to aggregate all of the bike projects all over the country and Provides a level of resource and awareness For those advocates on the ground doing the work and we're also providing the resources so Tools that you might need to get projects off the ground to build that political will at the local level, so You know we need more people to Peek into those projects is something missing if there is contact your local Advocates, but it really does take it takes it takes a huge huge village and We're we're just really grateful to be doing this this work Cammy anything to add? Yeah, there's a couple Active projects right now when we already mentioned us to 87 right now There's a virtual open house that anybody can leave comment on it's the vision zero safety study for that corridor that is one of Boulder counties in the three dens highest crash corridors one of the most dangerous roads to Traverse one way or the other whichever mode you choose so They're looking For all of you to provide your input before final recommendations are done or the first plan is put out To react to so you can find that probably in city along what's website link to it's on Boulder County's website If you just look up highway or us to 87 and put in vision zero you'll come to it the Colorado 119 bike way like we said was going to go to construction or begin being constructed next year There's been a number of open houses already But at any point if you want to reach out and give comment on that the doors never shut to give comment on any of these projects Coming up to something to look forward to is we're also going to have a vision zero safe routes to school action plan and Eventually every single school in bbsd and st. Brain Valley school district are going to have a transportation safety assessment done And so when the schools in your community come up We'd love to have community members whether they have a child and that school or not Come talk about what is working or not working in their communities We've all been up planners often talk about right if we build something that works for young people and older folks Are those experience disabilities? It'll work for everyone. So everyone is welcome to come out So we can make sure that whatever final adjustments are made proactively or after the fact or improve a known error That those changes represent everybody's needs in the community So I think you know check out the city of Longmont's website Boulder County's website You'll find a list of all the active projects that you can give Feedback on but as everyone said get involved and give your opinion We all all of our agencies have project lists they're kind of in priority order But the more we hear from the public the more Orders on those lists can change projects orders can be impacted if we really hear from the community that this is of greater Concern than maybe when it was first prioritized so speak up speak often We do listen it does matter when you reach out to us even outside of the formal opportunities It we listen and take all the feedback in to help kind of prioritize. How do we? Spend our limited resources and where should those precious resources go? So thank you for all of the involvement whether it is for city or the county or regionally because it really does Matter what you all think and say Thank you. Well, I want to invite everyone out to the lobby where we can continue the conversation We'll also have a whole bunch of We've a lot of a lot of community partners out there in the lobby a bit of a resource fair You can try out an electric bike look under the hood of an electric Mustang learn about transportation projects and planning and more We also have a food truck out there. It's a great taco truck by the way Thank you all for joining us. I hope you enjoyed the film and the panel and let's thank our panelists for joining us