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Every city needs a vibrant core. Here in Denver, it's the 16th Street pedestrian mall, a buzzing strip of restaurants, stores, offices, and hotels. Anchored by a baseball stadium at one end and blocks away from a convention center and another venue for basketball, plus a train station, it's the hub of Denver's downtown.
So what makes it work (as opposed to our own K Street)?
Transportation -- The city runs a free public transportation that runs up and down the street, allowing the public to jump on and jump off. The street is probably a couple miles in length, and the free transit makes it quick and convenient to get from one point to another.
Safety -- Granted it's convention week, but locals tell me there's always a strong police presence. It makes a world of difference.
Trees -- It's been in the high 90s all week, but the Mall is an oasis. It's tree-lined, with white lights lining the branches at night.
Bicycle Friendly -- This mall is open to bicycles, which makes it accessible to nearby residents who don't want to drive. There are plenty of bike racks too.
Which brings me to another feature Denver has that would work well in Sacramento: free loaner bicycles. This week, Denver launched a pilot program called "Freewheelin." You simply borrow a bike (you run your credit card through the system to prevent theft but there is no charge) from one spot and return it there or in any of seven other locations downtown. The program was set up using $500,000 worth of bicycles and equipment donated by bike manufacturers. Thirty of the bikes will stay after the convention.
I'm meeting with Denver's popular mayor later today and will have more about what he has to say about Denver's livability.