STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903
75cI
VOLUME 119
Issue 11
WEEK OF MARCH 17, 2022
Brighton prepares for arrival of Birds
TEN HANDS, ONE BALL
Council asks for ordinance to regulate e-scooters BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Bird Scooters, the two-wheeled, phone-app rentable electric scooters common around Denver and a handful of other Front Range cities, could be coming to Brighton streets, City Councilors were told March 8. Public Works Director Michael Woodruff told councilors that the company would like to deploy between 100 and 150 bird scooters in neighborhoods the city would approve, providing two local employees to keep track of the fleet. The company’s plan calls for having Brighton online with the scooters by July. “They currently share electric scooters in 150 cities globally, not just in the United States but globally,” he said. Councilors were generally curious about the idea and directed Woodruff and the city attorney to draw up an ordinance regulating how the scooters would be managed within Brighton city limits. “I think we should look at going forward with this to see what’s going to happen,” Councilor Matt Johnston said. “E-scooters are going to be here eventually, and it’s better to control it. It reminds me of marijuana in a way. If you are against marijuana, that’s your business.But the idea of guarding us from it when it’s everywhere is problematic on a monetary basis and just for reality.” Woodruff said he expects to have a city ordinance -- modeled after one adopted by the city of Pueblo -- before councilors in April. “They may decide they want to apply for the license and start in May,” Woodruff said. “The July of 2022 date is what they said initially, but who knows? We could have another company that decides, once we allow the ordinance, to start in May, too.” Only City Councilor Mary Ellen Pollack said it was a bad idea and dangerous for bike riders, car drivers and the scooter’s riders. “I never heard anything so ridiculous,” Pollack said. “It’d be different if we were big like Seattle or Washington or even Denver. But have you seen our streets? Has anybody paid attention? We’ve done the best we could, no doubt, SEE BIRDS, P3
James Kyren Allen (11) and Hunter Hill, of Eagle Ridge Academy battle St. Mary’s Carson Faber (center) for a thirdquarter rebound in a CHSAA 3A playoff game at the University of Denver March 10. St. Mary’s ended the Warriors’ PHOTO BY STEFAN BRODSKY playoff advance 91-68. See the story, page 15.
Colorado’s average gas prices nearing record Prices expected to remain high BY MATT BLOOM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
Coloradans can expect more pain at the pump as the average price for fuel continues to climb due to global market volatility. The state’s average price per gallon hit $3.91 on March 9, according to AAA Colorado. Prices have climbed more than $.60 over the past week, mostly due to crude oil price jumps, said Skyler Mckinley, AAA’s public affairs director. “Coloradans should be accustomed to gas price increases
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and very quick increases, even day to day, as the price that we pay at the pump catches up to what’s going on with crude oil,” Mckinley told CPR’s Colorado Matters. The price upswing comes as the U.S. moves to ban Russian energy imports in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. In a speech on March 8, President Joe Biden acknowledged the move could send gas prices soaring, but he said the ban was necessary to “deal another powerful blow to Putin’s war machine.” Fuel prices still haven’t hit record highs in Colorado, but they could quickly get there, Mckinley said. The state’s per gallon record is still $4.09, which
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2 •City offers support for 3 Ukraine 8 • Page 3 15 18 22
SPORTS • Riverdale standout makes college plans
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it reached in 2008. “I think it’s a near certainty that we will be in those record numbers again,” he said. “They might not top records if you adjust for inflation, but that might also be a possibility.” The state’s highest prices are concentrated in tourist-heavy mountain communities and the southwest corner of the state. Pitkin County’s average price hit $4.76 per gallon Wednesday. San Miguel County hit $4.33. Denver’s average price was $3.88 as of Wednesday morning. Averages were lower in Northern Colorado communities and throughout the Eastern Plains. The cost to fill up will likely SEE GAS, P21
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