Cycling Safety

Seek safe roads—including backroads—in Boulder and beyond

By Christopher C. Wuensch

Triny Willerton can still vividly recall the images of her five children that flashed through her mind during the split seconds after a large Ford pickup making an illegal turn struck the elite-level cyclist.

Willerton suffered six broken ribs, a punctured lung, and fractures of the scapula and pelvis on that fateful day in May of 2018 while cycling along a particularly perilous stretch of
Nelson Road.

The Boulder resident, who was setting personal best times while training to compete in that year’s IRONMAN World Championship Kona, never lost consciousness and credits her life to one thing in particular.

“I’m alive because of a helmet,” says Willerton, who was injured two days before the application period for the grueling Hawaiian triathlon.

It took a lengthy rehabilitation period, but the experienced rider of 10-plus years was able to work her way back, eventually earning a slot in the Kona courtesy of the IRONMAN’S Women for Tri program.

Willerton will be the first to declare how lucky she is. Tragically, many other cyclists aren’t as fortunate when it comes to road safety between bikers and motorists. And just about every rider can share similar stories of close-calls, sideswipes and much worse.

Boulder routinely ranks high among the country’s most accessible, friendliest and aesthetic bike cities with an estimated 93,000 bike owners—a number that’s on the rise with the advent of e-bikes.

With that many cyclists, however, issues are bound to arise when it comes to sharing the road. In fact, severe crashes are on the rise in the area, up 100 percent from 11 to 22 between 2022 and 2023, according to City of Boulder crash data. All totaled, there were more than 600 vehicle/bicycle-related crashes in 2023 alone.

Despite more than 300 miles of bike paths, including 96 miles of bike lanes in the city alone, interactions between bikes and vehicles are a sad and inevitable reality. But one that can be minimalized with the proper precautions, Willerton notes.

“Humans make mistakes,” says Willerton, a member of the Boulder City Council Transportation Advisory Board for three years. “We have to design a system that will best protect everyone. We know what works, it’s just a matter of applying it.”

To help further assist in creating a safer atmosphere for cyclists and motorists, Wellington helped found the non-profit It Could Be Me. The organization features more than 300 dedicated ambassadors, each with their own horror stories, sharing their expertise to foster an environment of mutual respect on the roadways.

Her advocacy has taken her from Boulder and beyond with meetings and presentations as high up as with the U.S. Department of Transportation to learn and share tips for safer cycling.

A few of those measures—aside from mandatory helmets—include reduced speeds, better lights and signage, as well as correct tire pressure and seat height. One commonly overlooked precaution a cyclist can take is investing in heavy duty tires, which are stronger and last longer, and are a must for any serious rider.

Route Apps, improved camera technology and taillight-synced computers also offer riders a safer biking experience.

Ride the Streets Safer

“We hear about it all the time,” says Brian Hannon, owner of Boulder Bicycle Works. “You can be doing everything right, but if a 3,000-pound car hits you, it doesn’t matter who is at fault.”

Hannon warns cyclists to be hyper aware and to assume that no one sees you on the road. It’s best to use all senses and to be constantly listening and watching your surroundings, while attempting to make eye contact with drivers to make sure that you’re seen, added Hannon, who has owned Boulder Bicycle Works, a 1,200-square foot full-service shop located at 2886 Bluff Street for more than 10 years. 

Even with vastly improved equipment and safety gear, much can be done to improve the cycling experience throughout Boulder, despite its biker-friendly environment.

“More protective bike lanes are needed,” Hannon says. “That way non-experienced cyclists will feel safer.”

Boulder has witnessed some success with its newly designed bike lanes, which are essentially concrete curbs that replace painted white lines. The city is currently reviewing plans to install more of these lanes and other precautions, particularly along Iris Avenue.

Where to Bike in Boulder and Beyond

It’s best to avoid city streets, such as Broadway, and others with limited shoulders like Boulder Canyon Drive. Biking during the morning and evening rush hours is also not recommended for recreational riders.

While there are plenty of biking options surrounding the city—with trails that lead directly to Denver—some of the best pathways lie to the north, while west toward Ward is ideal for those looking to do some canyon climbing. Ninety percent of the trails in the north network towards Lyons and Hygiene are gravel.

The Boulder to Hygiene loop is a breath-taking ride—a 32-mile trek that provides an excellent opportunity for cyclists to test their mettle on one of the latest trends in biking by training on gravel surfaces.

“People like gravel because you’re off the road,” says Roy Burger, president of the Boulder Cycling Club. “Gravel gives you that other option, and there’s an adventurous spirit about it.” For those who race the road, training on gravel can still be an option. “You have to understand that it’s not as fast as a road bike,” Hannon says, noting that riders can still get a great workout. Some highly touted gravel roads can be found at Sunshine Canyon and Sugarloaf, which take riders away from highly trafficked regions. Some of the most popular local bike races include gravel roads such as the Buffalo Bicycle Classic in September and the Old Man Winter Bike Rally in February.

The Boulder Cycling Club was formed 20 years ago with around 15 to 20 riders. These days the club boasts roughly 300 paid members and has another 1,500 followers. You’ll find the club on the surrounding roads just about every day of the week with organized field trips to Trail Ridge Road, Fall River and Golden’s Lookout Mountain.

With as many 60 to 70 riders per outing reaching speeds between 15 and 20 miles per hour, safety comes at a premium for the Boulder Cycling Club, Burger says.

“We’ve all lost friends to cycling,” he says.

The Boulder Cycling Club relies on a ride ambassador for each ride to act as a sweep and to enforce safety and to spot instances where riders are doing the wrong thing. Each ambassador undergoes annual training aimed at emphasizing safety measures such as riding single and double file, proper rotations and never passing to the right.

Discover more about the club at bouldercyclingclub.org.

Burger admits that the Boulder Cycling Club is tailored to more experienced riders and might not be the best fit for newcomers to the sport. But plenty of clubs exist in the Boulder County area for riders of all ages and levels. 

All of which stress safety.

“We have to try to understand why people are so mad on the road,” said Willerton. “These are someone’s mom, dad, daughter. We have to start remembering these things and remembering there’s a human element to it all.”