Exciting news!

When the State’s 5 Star Certification Program was introduced in late December to allow counties to certify qualifying 5 Star entities like businesses, gyms and fitness centers, restaurants, personal services and indoor events to operate at a greater capacity, we saw that outdoor recreation options like bike tours were not included as a category alongside other business entities. With bike events planning 2021 rides amidst uncertainty about State regulations and participation guidelines on COVID, we needed to find a solution quickly, so we got to work to fix the problem. 

Working alongside the Colorado Bike Event Coalition (CBEC), today we’re proud to say that the Certification Program has been amended to include outdoor recreation events, clearing a path for Colorado’s iconic bicycle tour events to return this year. Ensuring that bike events like the Triple Bypass, Denver Century Ride, Courage Classic and more can go on in a COVID-safe way not only allows people like you to partake in the rides you love, it also protects an important part of Colorado’s economy—tourism dollars from Coloradans and out-of-staters traveling to participate. 

“The Colorado Bike Event Coalition was thrilled to see the change to include Outdoor Events in the 5 Star Certification program,” says Deirdre Moynihan, organizer of the CBEC and Tour Director of Ride The Rockies and Pedal The Plains. “Recreational bike tours such as Ride The Rockies, Elephant Rock and the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic play a significant role in the economy and tourism in Colorado. This change will allow the bike tours to function at a greater capacity, following all COVID mitigation protocols and ensuring the sustainability of the bike tours for the future.” 

“CBEC was grateful to collaborate with Bicycle Colorado on this effort to work with the State to include bike tours in the 5 Star Certification Program,” she adds.  

Including recreational bike events allows the Colorado bike tour industry to not just survive, but thrive, and protects Colorado’s reputation as a bike-friendly state. We got to work by connecting with the CBEC who were working on their COVID mitigation guide, and we contacted the Governor’s office and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on their behalf to ask for this change. Our voice was heard loud and clear. 

The 5 Star State Certification Program allows participating counties to let entities that meet enhanced safety guidelines to operate at greater capacity. Depending on where the county or municipality falls on the COVID-19 dial, certified entities are eligible for less restrictive capacity caps. You can see new 5-Star Classifications here. Bicycle tour events qualify in the new outdoor recreation section. 

Thank you for all your support. We’re proud to fight for bicycling opportunities in Colorado, and will continue to do so in the weeks and months to come. If you want to make a contribution so we can continue work like this, please join or renew as a member today. 

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