The Denver Regional Council of Governments Board of Directors on Wednesday, January 21 adopted the Active Transportation Plan. The plan establishes a vision for a safe, comfortable and connected walking and bicycling system across the Denver region.

DRCOG developed the plan during the past 20 months in close collaboration with its member governments and partners from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation District. The plan serves as a major update to the region’s 2019 active transportation plan.

The plan identifies key themes and strategies to expand active transportation, which is the movement of people and goods using nonmotorized, human-powered mobility such as bicycling, walking and scootering — for everyone who lives and works in the Denver region. Safe, inviting and inclusive walking and bicycling networks play a critical role in meeting the region’s mobility, safety and air quality goals.

The plan updates the regional active transportation network, which informs infrastructure investments and guides local planning efforts. The plan also outlines 10 actions for DRCOG staff to advance a safer and more accessible mobility system throughout the region.

Two major guidance resources support the plan. The resources build on local case studies and national guidance to help DRCOG and its member governments accelerate construction of the region’s walking and bicycling network:

• Sidewalk Delivery Guide: Provides design tools and lessons for accessible sidewalks, along with local and national solutions to address common challenges and barriers and best practices in performance measurement and program evaluation.
• Bicycle+ Program Guide: Builds on recent national guidance and local experience to help jurisdictions meet the evolving needs of bicycling and micromobility. Topics include designing for new modes such as scooters and e-bikes, applying DRCOG’s Regional Complete Streets Toolkit and maintaining bicycling infrastructure year-round.