Cyclists touring the Lariat Loop west of Denver will eventually have bike stands dotting the historic route.
The Lariat Loop National Scenic Byway recently received notice of $25,000 in matching funding from the Federal Highway Administration to build and install 25 bike racks along the route.
Joe Tempel, executive director of the nonprofit Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance, said the bike racks will be placed at strategic points along the 40-mile route, which connects Golden, Lookout Mountain, Genesee, Evergreen and Morrison.
Tempel said the program is aimed at the large number of cyclists who travel the road, which is dotted with numerous points of interest, such as Buffalo Bill’s Museum and Grave, the Lookout Mountain Nature Center, Evergreen Lake and, in Morrison, Red Rocks Amphitheater.
“There are a lot of cyclists along the route,” Tempel said.
Racks will be built as the nonprofit has the funds, which will then be reimbursed by the federal agency. The Lariat Loop needs to match the $25,000 federal funds with $6,000 in local funds.
Tempel estimated the bike rack installation might take more than a year.
The racks are in the design phase and will go out to bid soon for fabrication costs. The racks will be built of steel and powder-coated. The motif of a cowboy swinging a lariat will be incorporated into the rack design.
Tempel said the nonprofit is seeking input from area businesses and heritage sites for location suggestions.
“We haven’t picked the exact locations, but we are sure we can find 25 spots along the loop. We are trying to tuck them in front of a building or in a parking lot. It should be unobtrusive but obvious to the bicyclists.”
In a separate project, Colorado Department of Transportation public relations manager Bob Wilson said surveyors will be laying out a future bike path between Genesee and Evergreen Parkway this fall.
“At some point there will be a bike trail so people won’t have to ride on I-70 anywhere,” he said.
Karen Groves: 303-954-2303 or kgroves@denverpost.com
