Colorado is getting healthier according to a new federal report which has Colorado in 9th place up from 13th in 2010. Heading up the top of this list is Vermont and holding the bottom is Mississippi. Colorado already holds the top of the charts for thinnest state in the union and now according to governor Hickenlooper we have our sights set on being the healthiest state.

Heatherwood Elementary in Boulder has recently won the James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award for their efforts in getting more kids walking and biking to school. Only one elementary school in the US wins it every year and this year it returns to Boulder, Bear Creek Elementary won it in 2008.
The James Oberstar Award

The James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award is given annually for outstanding achievement in implementing a Safe Routes to School program in the United States. The award is named for James L. Oberstar, former chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (2007-2011) and former U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District (1975-2011), to honor his dedication to American schoolchildren as the pioneer for the federal Safe Routes to School Program. Mr. Oberstar sponsored the Safe Routes to School legislation that strives to create safe settings to enable more children and parents to walk and
bicycle to school.

News agencies are reporting recently of the expected rise of gas prices in 2012 ABC News, CNN, NBC

This probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone given the political state of the world and the rise of oil demand by foriegn markets like China and India. The possibility of $5 gas has been the song and prayer of some cyclists for years and some will say that this increase of gas over the last 3 years along with the recession has increased biking, but is it really making a difference? Even in the cycling friendly towns along the front range like Boulder, Fort Collins and pockets of Denver an increase has taken place but some will say it is smaller than one would expect giving the state of the world. But most importantly are you going to change and if not what does it take to make the leap? Some say a "leap" is a strong word because like anything one can take baby steps, no one is asking to sell the car and quit your job that is 20 miles away. Focus on those items within the 2 mile radius from your house/apartment.

The City of Boulder just released their Safe Streets Boulder Report which highlights many safety aspects for the users of Boulders Streets. The Daily Camera does some indepth analysis of the report and below is a snippet from article

Bicycles vs. vehicles make up 6 percent of all traffic accidents in Boulder, according to the Safe Streets report.

At that rate, cyclists are about three times more likely to be involved in an accident with a vehicle than a pedestrian is.

"You've really got to pay attention," said Jason Estes, a bike courier with Denver/Boulder Couriers who was making deliveries through the snow Friday morning.

By far, the most common danger to cyclists in Boulder is drivers making turns within intersections. Turning vehicles were the cause of 40 percent of all bike-vehicle crashes during the study period. In about 10 percent of the cases, a driver was making a right turn on a red light.
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City baffled by summer drop

The study also poses something of a mystery for city officials.