DENVER (KDVR) — A local group of bicycle safety advocates is speaking out after a downtown Denver restaurant received threatening emails about the change in bike lanes for its valet parking.
One of the admins of the Denver Bicycle Lobby, a group of residents advocating for bicycle safety, posted a statement in its Facebook group after it learned that management at STK Steakhouse had received threatening emails after bike lanes were removed in front of the downtown business.
“We condemn all forms of violence and threatening emails or calls. Threats of violence to employees or companies are unacceptable,” the statement said.
The grassroots group said this comes after the removal of the “protected” bike lanes in front of STK on Market Street, which was made to accommodate valet parking and has led to “dangerous conditions” in one of the busiest areas in Denver for bikers and scooters. The lobby said that it believes the original valet permit that was half a block from STK was “adequate,” like other successful restaurants with valet parking on Larimer Square.
“The convenience of steakhouse patrons should not supersede the safety of Denver residents who travel by bike or scooter on Market St.,” the statement said.
While the Denver Bicycle Lobby said it’s supporting those choosing not to patronize STK, it questioned the city of Denver’s “poor choice” in spending $200,000 to remove the bike lanes, which has been an ongoing issue since the spring.
Nancy Kuhn, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said adjustments were made near STK after “some mixed movements” with bikers, STK’s valet and the bus lane. As a result, the department adjusted the bollards, the short posts on the road, for STK’s valet.
“To provide a safer and more predictable environment for all of the users of that space, we adjusted some bollards of the bicycle lane to better align with the pull in and pull out services of the valet. So, we removed some bollards to give STK more space to operate to create a safer and more predictable and safe environment for all,” Kuhn said.
Since this change, bicycle advocates have been speaking out about the safety and the money spent on the project. In June, DOTI said it decided to remove flex posts along Blake Street and Market Street in favor of dividers to clear up visual clutter and open up sight lines. This also included removing the posts by STK.
DOTI had said it spent $200,000 on these changes, using money set aside for “neighborhood transportation and traffic calming,” which doesn’t just mean bike lanes. However, June Churchill, a budget chair for DOTI’s advisory board and a biker, told FOX31’s Nate Belt that that was the fund’s purpose, and she is concerned for the safety of bikers.
Churchill said these changes now allow cars to block the bike lanes, causing safety issues.
FOX31 reached out to STK’s owners, The ONE Group, about the threatening emails and is awaiting a response.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
