No, the Vibrant Denver Bond Does Not Fund Bike Lanes
Despite public statements from the Johnston Administration, the Vibrant Denver Bond does not fund a single dedicated bike lane. The Mayor’s claim that the bond “includes bike projects” is misleading, and directly contradicted by the bond’s actual contents.
What the Mayor Claims
Mayor Johnston has publicly asserted that the Vibrant Denver bond includes miles of new bike lanes.
But here’s the truth:
There is $0 in dedicated funding for new bike lanes or the upgrade of existing bike infrastructure
This is a stark decline from Mayor Hancock’s Elevate Denver bond, which included $18 million for bike lanes
Projects being cited as “bike infrastructure” either already include multi-use paths or contain no new bike-specific design at all
What’s Actually in the Bond?
According to the Denver Bicycle Lobby, which reviewed the bond in detail, the following projects have been misrepresented as bike infrastructure:
West 38th Avenue: No bike lanes planned. One bike crossing with a diverter was proposed, but later canceled after driver complaints and complaints from a City Council Member
8th Avenue Bridge: Already has a multi-use path. The proposed rebuild does not add new bike lanes
38th Street Underpass: Also has an existing path. No bike lane additions
East Evans Avenue: Mentioned bike crossings, but no bike infrastructure is included in the final scope
Santa Fe Streetscape: Pedestrian-focused improvements—no bike lanes
Marion Underpass: Car-focused design with no transparency about bike access. This project is for the National Western Stockshow, not for the community, and is the city’s back door approach to getting funding after voters rejected funding their expansion.
Sharrows Are Not Bike Lanes
The Mayor has pointed to planned “Neighborhood Bikeways” as proof of investment, but these do not include actual bike lanes. They are shared streets where cars and bikes co-exist, marked only with painted sharrows.
CU Denver research shows that sharrows do not improve safety, and in some cases, may be worse than doing nothing at all.
Ignoring Community Feedback
Residents spoke loudly and clearly:
Bike infrastructure was the #1 most requested topic during public comment
Councilmembers heard calls for:
Protected bike lanes on 13th and 14th Avenues in Capitol Hill
Completing the North Broadway bike lane
A safe, connected bikeway network across Denver
Yet none of these priorities were funded in the final bond. Instead, just 16 out of 120 speakers were allowed to testify publicly, and no new bike projects made the final cut.
This Isn’t Just Policy—It’s Life and Death
The death of Salih Koç, a promising aerospace engineering student, while biking at W. 38th Ave. and Tejon Street, is a tragic reminder of the real-world consequences of failing to invest in safe infrastructure.
That very intersection was part of a protected bike lane project delayed indefinitely after objections from business stakeholders.
Let’s Set the Record Straight
Bond Project Includes New Bike Lanes?
West 38th Avenue ❌ No
8th Avenue Bridge ❌ No
38th Street Underpass ❌ No
East Evans Avenue ❌ No
Santa Fe Streetscape ❌ No
Total Funding for New Bike Lanes $0
A City’s Budget Reflects Its Values
Mayor Johnston campaigned on building out Denver Moves and the VAMOS bike plan. Yet today, he is offering:
No bond dollars for bike lanes
Record-low funding in the city budget
The removal of protected bike lanes for valet parking at STK Steakhouse
Denverites deserve better. We need leadership that invests in safety, not more spin.