Durango Gets Gold

The City of Durango is proud to announce we have achieved Gold Level status as a Bicycle Friendly Community as designated by the League of American Bicyclists. Previously rated a Silver Level community, the past 3 years of hard work in expanding bicycle infrastructure, pro-bicycle policies, and education boosted our status to the elite Gold Level. Way to go Durango!

In honor of achieving Gold Level status, we'd like to list a partial chronology of events and people that have made this achievement possible:

1895 - The Durango Wheel Club is formed.

1971 - Tom Mayer, a young bicycle enthusiast, challenges his older brother Jim Mayer, a brakeman on the Narrow Gauge railroad, to a race to Silverton - him on his bike, Jim on the train. Tom wins, and the rest is history.
1972 - The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic is first held, organized by Ed Zink and won by local legend Mike Elliot.

1976 - The first segment of the Animas River Trail is completed.

1982 - Durango City Planner Greg Hoch creates the first Bicycle Route Map for Durango streets.

1990 - Durango hosts the first-ever UCI World Mountain Bike Championships.

1990 - Ned Overend of Durango wins the first-ever Mountain Bike World Championships Cross Country title, while Greg Herbold of Durango wins the Downhill title.

1990 - Trails 2000 is formed and names Bill Manning as Director.

1999 - Warren McNaughton and Shane Baird to compile an "Inventory and Priority of Paved Roads in La Plata County for Improved Bicycling and Pedestrian Safety", which was adopted in the "La Plata County Comprehensive Traffic Study".
2004 - The Safe Roads Coalition is formed and successfully promotes Complete Streets for Durango and LaPlata County.
2004 - Durango Voters approve Ballot Question 2A which will add an additional 0.5% Local Sales Tax to directly fund Parks, Open Space and Trails.

2005 - The Main Avenue Underpass is completed to connect the Animas River Trail continuously through downtown Durango.
2007 - La Plata County Commissioners adopt a Resolution in support of the Safe Roads Coalition's "Inventory and Prioritization of Roads in La Plata County for Improved Bicycling, Pedestrian, and Motorist Safety".
2008 - Durango Voters approve Ballot Measure 2A to fund the rebuilding of Florida Road.

2009 - Bicycle Friendly Durango holds the first Bike Summit and Durango is named a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community.

2009 - The City of Durango names Amber Blake as the first-ever Multimodal Coordinator.
2009 - Durango hosts the Singlespeed World Championships

2011 - Florida Road is completely rebuilt to become the first Durango street to allow full bike and pedestrian access.
2011 - La Plata County publishes it's first ever La Plata County & Durango Area Bike Map.
2012 - Durango is awarded the opening stage of the 2012 Pro Tour Challenge Tour of Colorado.
2012 - Durango is named a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community.
2012 - The final missing section of the current Animas River Trail is completed behind the Durango Mall creating 7 uninterrupted miles of trail.