Photo by David Boerner

A new bicycle surcharge passed the Fort Collins City Council in January, adding an additional $35 fine to moving violation tickets issued to cyclists in Fort Collins.  This is an extension of the so-called “traffic calming” surcharge that has been in effect for drivers since 2005 and has since generated $320,000 annually, paying for three dedicated traffic enforcement officers.  Lt. Jim Szakmeister of Fort Collins Police Services said the bike surcharge is expected to bring in $7,000 more in revenues (200 tickets).  Sure, $7,000 might buy a bike or two, but it certainly won’t pay for a dedicated bike traffic officer.  So why bother?  Are bicyclist’s 200 cited infractions really that big of a deal for Fort Collins?

Ryan Clark doesn’t think so.  The 30-year-old unwittingly became one of the first recipients of the new surcharge.  Clark - a tall, lanky guy who looks to be in very good shape - commutes by bike from his house near the intersection of Stover and Drake to his work, Gulley’s Greenhouse at the southern edge of town on Shields.    The ride takes him about twenty minutes, depending on traffic.  It’s not a bad commute, thanks to the Mason Trail and bike lanes on Harmony and Shields, but first Clark must face the intersection of Drake and College – an intersection clearly not designed for cyclists.

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