As downtown Las Vegas expands and updates its infrastructure, a bicycle culture is emerging from the rubble and neon lights. With the high cost of fuel and increasing congestion, more people are finding that it’s quicker, easier and more fun to ride their bikes.

The construction going on downtown is hard to ignore, but it will bring a much-needed update to the streets of Las Vegas. While the roadways are being upgraded, city planners are being mindful of the burgeoning bicycle community by adding bike lanes. This is a huge leap forward in accommodating the needs of this growing segment of the population. The city’s efforts stem from the examples set forth by cities like Seattle and Portland, two of Americas most bike friendly towns. While we are a long way from reaching the level of accessibility of those two cities, Las Vegas is heading (steering) in the right direction.

The flourishing bike community is impossible to ignore. Entrepreneurs have jumped on board by starting businesses that cater to cyclists. One of the most recent examples is the Fremont Bike Clinic (a subsidiary shop of Public Pedal Bicycle Collective) inside Emergency Arts. In addition to providing maintenance and repair services, the bike clinic’s goal is to promote bike culture through educational workshops and bike centric events.

The city has also jumped on board with the RTC Bike Center located in the Bonneville street bus terminal. Nearly one year old, this facility is designed to promote the use of alternative modes of transport for commuters. The Center provides bicycle storage for a yearly fee of $60 which includes shower and locker facilities. The idea is that a commuter can ride their bike to the terminal, change in their work clothes and take the bus to where they need to go. The business also handles bike repairs as well as the sale of bicycles.

The community has also utilized the most simple way to meet other bike enthusiasts, through clubs. Some of these include, Green Valley Cycling, the Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club, and most notably Hammer and Cycle, the largest bicycle club in Las Vegas. These clubs organize group rides and offer a support system for their members. Hammer and Cycle, with its Russian propaganda inspired logo, have group rides at least twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Even though these clubs and co-ops are out there, many cyclists do not belong to any organizations. There are a variety of events to bring lonely cyclists up to speed, most prominently, Critical Mass. This is a nation-wide effort to promote bicycle use and raise awareness for cyclist rights when it comes to sharing the road.

Of course, there are other events that are more downtown centric. One of these is the annual Blinking Man Pub Crawl. This is a bicycle pub crawl that takes place in downtown Las Vegas. The idea is to connect with local cyclists over cocktails at some choice downtown watering holes. The ride welcomes everyone that wants to participate. The next BMPC is scheduled for January 20, 2012.  Another popular event this year was the bicycle prom held at The Artifice.

Even though Vegas has a long way to go, it is apparent that moves are being made to promote the cycling lifestyle. As biking becomes more popular, more and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of riding. How far Vegas will go to push this initiative is still unclear, but one thing is certain, we are rolling in the right direction.