Denver Is Crowned Cycle Town, USA

The Mile High City Defeats Portland, OR, Minneapolis, MN and Washington, D.C. in REI's Cycle Town Showdown

DENVER, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The people have spoken – and Denver has emerged triumphant in REI's hotly contested Cycle Town Showdown, which pitted several U.S. cities against each other in a battle to see which city was the most bike-friendly.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130404/DC89282)

Of course the outcome was no surprise to anyone who has enjoyed The Mile High City's 850 miles of paved, off-road bike paths, scenic beauty, and more than 300 days of sunshine every year.

It's not just for locals, either. Visitors can experience this two-wheel paradise for themselves by using the pioneering bike share system, Denver B-cycle, which was introduced in 2010. The first widespread bike share program in a major U.S. city, B-cycle features 56 B-stations located in convenient spots near downtown hotels, on the 16th Street Mall, by museums, at the Colorado Convention Center, in parks – including City Park – and at shopping centers. The innovative program will increase to 86 stations by the end of 2013, connecting many of Denver's most unique and fun neighborhoods.

All B-cyclists have to do is purchase a pass (online or at a station), pick a bike and start exploring. Daily passes are just $8. When they're done, they can drop it off at any station. Download the Denver B-cycle app or learn more about the program at denver.bcycle.com.

Cherry Creek Trail: Shop, Cycle and See the Sights
Pick Up A Bike At: 2900 Cherry Creek N. Drive (Cherry Creek Shopping Center)
Where To Go: After shopping at the upscale Cherry Creek Shopping District, roll onto the Cherry Creek Trail for an off-road ride. Bikers can follow the (mostly downhill) trail six miles all the way to the Riverfront neighborhood, home to such attractions as The Downtown Aquarium, The Children's Museum of Denver, REI Flagship Store and Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park.  
Drop Off Your Bike At: 1416 Platte St. (REI)

City Park: Explore Denver's Very Own Central Park 
Pick Up A Bike At: 2001 Colorado Blvd. (Denver Museum of Nature & Science)
Where To Go: Cycle east on E. 21^st Ave. towards the enormous City Park, a perfect place for a two-wheel adventure. Ride around Ferril Lake and be treated to sweeping views of the Denver skyline. During summer nights, the Prismatic Electric Fountain in Ferril Lake wows with columns of water colored red, white and blue. Visit the Denver Zoo or the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. 
Drop Off Your Bike At: 2300 Steele St. (Denver Zoo)

Washington Park: Take A Lakeside Spin
Pick Up A Bike At: 1280 S. Washington St. (Louisiana/Pearl Light Rail Station)
Where To Go: Ride east on E. Louisiana Ave. to Washington Park (Wash Park to locals), where you can coast around two lakes and kick back amidst flower gardens, big green lawns and fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Take Exposition Ave. east out of the park to Old South Gaylord St., a small but vibrant neighborhood with shops, art galleries, cafés, restaurants and taverns.
Drop Off Your Bike At: 1280 S. Washington St. (Louisiana/Pearl Light Rail Station)

Golden Triangle Museum District: Discover Arts & Culture On Two Wheels
Pick Up A Bike At: 10 W. 14^th Ave. Parkway (Denver Public Library)
Where To Go: View the architecturally stunning Denver Art Museum from every possible angle. Take a spin around Civic Center Park, with the gold-domed Colorado State Capitol Building on one side and Denver City & County Building on the other. Head east on 13^th Ave. to the Kirkland Museum or the Molly Brown House Museum to explore two of the city's most interesting hidden gem museums. 
Drop Off Your Bike At: 1291 Pearl St.

16th Street Mall & LoDo: Cycle Your Way Through Downtown Denver
Pick Up A Bike At: 1550 Glenarm St. (Denver Pavilions)
Where To Go: (Note: Bikes are only allowed on the 16^th St. Mall on Sundays) Head northwest on the mile-long 16^th St. Pedestrian Mall, passing the iconic Daniels & Fisher Tower and Skyline Park.  Explore LoDo (lower downtown), home to the Tattered Cover Bookstore, Coors Field and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA), not to mention dozens of cafes, restaurants and bars. 
Drop Off Your Bike At: 15^th & Delgany (MCA Denver)

How To Get A B-cycle
Denver B-cycle charges a fee for access to the system for the duration of your chosen period, as well as a time-based usage fee that varies according to how long you keep the bike on each ride. You can buy a pass for 24 hours ($8), 7 days ($20), 30 days ($30) or one year memberships ($80). All passes and memberships can be purchased at http://denver.bcycle.com, and 24-hour passes can also be purchased at the kiosk that is part of all 56? Denver B-stations. With your pass, the first 30 minutes of every B-cycle ride is no charge! After 30 minutes, there is a small usage charge for each additional 30 minutes you have the B-cycle checked out. As a member, you can check out a B-cycle multiple times within your pass period.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
Celebrating more than 100 years of promoting the Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Tourism is the second largest industry in Denver, generating $3.3 billion in annual spending in 2011, while supporting 50,000 jobs. Learn more about Denver at VISITDENVER.com, on Twitter @IKnowDenver and Facebook.com/VisitDenver, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

With press or photo inquiries, please contact: 
Rich Grant – (303) 571-9450 or rgrant@visitdenver.com
Deborah Park – (303) 571-9451 or dpark@visitdenver.com   
Katie Converse – (303) 571-9418 or kconverse@visitdenver.com

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

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In Denver, Obama tries to rally support for gun buyer background checks

By Jeff Mason

DENVER (Reuters) - Stricter gun laws passed by Colorado's state government show it is possible to require background checks for all gun buyers without infringing on gun ownership rights, President Barack Obama will argue in a speech in the state on Wednesday.

Obama is trying to shore up flagging support in Congress for gun-control legislation, speaking on the topic at events in Colorado on Wednesday and next week in Connecticut, two states that have worked on tougher gun laws in the wake of shocking mass shootings.

Obama proposed a series of new measures, including universal background checks and new penalties for gun trafficking, after 20 children and six adults were killed in a school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in December.

The Senate has delayed debate on the proposals because lawmakers have not been able to reach agreement on expanding background checks, a centerpiece of the package which is opposed by the National Rifle Association, the powerful U.S. gun lobby.

"I think that Colorado has shown that practical progress is possible by enacting tougher background checks that won't infringe on the rights of responsible gun owners, but will help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people," Obama said in excerpts from his prepared remarks.

The excerpts were released by the White House ahead of the speech in Denver, slated to begin at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT).

Last month, Colorado's state government mandated universal background checks for all gun buyers. The new law came after the state experienced two mass shootings, a July 2012 shooting at a movie theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora, and the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School.

In his remarks, Obama emphasized that the state is also a home to hunters and sportsmen who value gun ownership rights.

"I'm here because I believe there's no conflict between reconciling these realities," said Obama, noting that he has received "stacks of letters" from gun owners who also want gun violence curbed.

(Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton and Thomas Ferraro; Editng by Todd Eastham)

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