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Since the start of June, the city of Black Hawk has issued at least eight traffic citations to cyclists passing through the Colorado town. Their crime: simply pedaling down the street.

In January, the tiny city that banks most of its economic development from area casinos, passed an ordinance banning bicycles from virtually every street. That includes Black Hawk’s main thoroughfare, which also happens to be a road used by travelers following Adventure Cycling’s popular Great Parks South route.

Officials argue that it’s too dangerous for cyclists to share the narrow roads that carry a heavy flow of tour buses bound for the slot machines. Bicycle Colorado, an Alliance member organization, says the real danger is that this absurd measure could spread across the Centennial State — and beyond. “Bicycle Colorado is very concerned about it, because we don’t want it to set a precedent that other cities would follow,” Dan Grunig, the group’s executive director, told a local news reporter.

Grunig made a formal case for lifting the ban at the June 9th city council meeting, but Black Hawk officials remained determined to keep bikes off their streets. But their logic doesn’t add up. While the council insists the ordinance promotes safety, city staff hasn’t cited even one example of a car-bike collision. When Bicycle Colorado offered to work with the town to come up with road safety alternatives to the outright ban, city officials shot that down, too.

So, until the measure is overturned, anyone “caught riding” is subject to a $68 fine.

But the frustration of many American cyclists is starting to bear down on the tiny mountain town. Last week, a new website promoting a Black Hawk boycott went live. The Facebook page “Bicyclists and Tourists Boycott Black Hawk Colorado” has racked up nearly 1,300 supporters. Bicycle Colorado is hoping to capitalize on that momentum next week, when they rally in front of the state capitol on June 29.

You can help. Send your thoughts to the city council at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (303) 582-2212. Or donate a few dollars to the cause by contributing to Bicycle Colorado.