Colorado Avenue Demonstration: A Win for Safety, but a Missed Opportunity for Connectivity

Starting early summer 20226 (Update – June 1st 2026) the City of Colorado Springs is launching the 12-month Colorado Avenue Demonstration Project following the Midland Corridor Transportation Study. While we are encouraged by the focus on pedestrian safety and traffic calming, Bike Colorado Springs is deeply disappointed that this project continues to exclude safe, dedicated bicycle infrastructure on the Westside’s most vital corridor.

Here is the breakdown of what is coming, this is without a doubt a significant win for safety that  we should be celebrating, at the same time we believe the current plan still falls short of its full potential – photos below are from the Colorado Ave Project Page

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A Missed Opportunity for the Westside

Bike Colorado Springs believes that bike lanes on Colorado Ave make sense. Safe bike infrastructure on Colorado Ave would create an intuitive, direct, and safe connection between Downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, and Manitou Springs.

Despite our continued advocacy, the City’s official Midland Corridor Transportation Study FAQ reveals a discouraging trade-off. When asked why the study doesn’t recommend bike lanes on Colorado Avenue, the City’s response was clear:

“Public input received during the study reflected a stronger desire for increased parking which was applied to Colorado Avenue…”

Midland Corridor Transportation Study FAQ

By prioritizing parking over safe bike connectivity, the City is missing a chance to build a truly multi-modal Main Street. We truly do understand the benefits of using lower traffic neighborhood streets like the City suggests. [Read here about the most recent bike boulevard meeting] But solely relying on side streets like Cucharras or Pikes Peak do have significant flaws:

• No Direct Merchant Access: Neither the Midland Trail or the side streets offer direct access to the shops, restaurants, and cafes on Colorado Ave. Riders shouldn’t be “hidden” on backstreets when trying to support local businesses.
• The “Pikes Peak Hill”: While Pikes Peak Ave is a designated route, it features a steep grade that is a major barrier for many riders.
• Waiting on Cucharras: We are still waiting for promised improvements on Cucharras, including a safe, signalized crossing at the high-traffic 21st Street intersection, which remains a dangerous gap in our network.

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The Positives: Celebrating a Safer Colorado Ave

While we push for better bike access, there are significant safety improvements in this pilot that we should absolutely celebrate. These changes represent a major shift toward making Colorado Avenue a place for people:

• Lane Reconfiguration: Moving from 4 lanes to 3 (one travel lane each way plus a center turn lane) between Limit St and 29th St is a massive win for safety. This reconfiguration is a proven way to naturally calm speeding traffic while reducing left turn rear end crashes.
• Improved Pedestrian Crossings: The project includes more frequent and safer crossing points. For anyone who has ever tried to cross Colorado Ave on foot or with a bike to reach the Midland Trail, these upgrades will be a game-changer.
• More Public Spaces in OCC: Transforming current parallel parking into expanded pedestrian “bump-outs” and social spaces in the OCC’s historic core will make this iconic district more inviting and walkable while retaining street parking
• Safer Intersections: The lane reductions will simplify the conflict points for cyclists crossing Colorado Avenue from North/South neighborhood routes.

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The Demonstration Project: Next Steps

We expect implementation to begin after Territory Days (update – Restriping beginning June 1, 2026) and last for up to one year. This test phase will guide the permanent multi-million dollar reconstruction scheduled for 2027/2028. We are currently seeking clarification on whether riders will be permitted to use the new “buffer” areas created by the lane reductions and will share that info as soon as we have it.

Your Voice Matters Now More Than Ever

Because this is a Demonstration Project, the City will be using data to understand how people use the road. We need to celebrate the new safety features while continuing to remind the City that true multi-modal safety includes welcoming people on bikes.

If you find that the lack of bike lanes makes it harder to shop in OCC, or if you feel that the 21st Street crossing is still a barrier, please let the City know. Please complete the city’s survey to capture your current experiences with Colorado Ave, take this opportunity to provide feedback before the permanent concrete is poured.