Brad Tucker, well known for both his support of bike racing and his bike law practice, continues to make advances for Colorado cyclists. He has worked closely with Bicycle Colorado for over a decade, making legislative strides with them that include the three feet to pass law and closing the hit and run loophole. He devotes much of his practice to bike law and making the roads safer for all cyclists. In addition to sponsoring a cycling team, he gives back countless hours to numerous bike organizations. His passion for the sport has no boundaries.
What is your background in the cycling community?
I didn't start riding as an adult until pretty late in life, I think I was 34. Then, I didn't enter my first race until I was 38. I used to be a runner until my knees started to give out. I happened to try cycling and I instantly fell in love with it. I went from being a recreational rider to becoming interested in racing. I was interested, but extremely intimidated by racing, but I worked up my courage to go on some training rides with a club. Since then I have raced every year.
How did you incorporate your practice of law into your passion for cycling?
About 10 years ago I had been practicing law for close to 15 years and had built a successful law practice and career. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to offer some of my time for volunteer legal work. I thought long about something that I was genuinely passionate about and I decided that securing and enlarging cycling access and increasing safety was my number one cause. It was at that time I began volunteering with Bicycle Colorado and providing volunteer legal counsel.
How did you get involved with Bicycle Colorado?
Well I walked into their office and asked for Dan Grunig - who had just taken over as executive director. I introduced myself, told him what I was interested in doing and that I wanted nothing in return.
Wow, and are you still involved with Bicycle Colorado?
Yes, along the way I became a board member and I've been in that position for six years now. I was recently elected to the office of vice-president of the board. And it's been fantastic; I've been very involved in our (Bicycle Colorado) countless legislative efforts and that has been extremely gratifying.
You are well known for your representation of Cyclists, how did that start?
Well, when this all started I had already had a long and successful career working with insurance and liability law. Then Dan asked me one day if I had ever considered representing cyclists and I loved the idea.
How did your first case go?
Dan had a friend who had been hurt in a cycling accident and asked if I would take her case, and I did. She was an absolutely wonderful young woman to work with.
So that was the beginning?
That's where it all started. But I started really doing it just as an extension of my passion and it was a way to involve cycling in the practice of my law firm. I just kind of dabbled in bike law at first but I very quickly went from dabbling to being very busy with it. Now it is definitely the predominant part of my law practice. It has gone past my wildest imagination.
From the sounds of it, this completely took off, were you expecting that?
No, not even remotely. I never thought this would be the biggest part of my job. When I started doing this nobody was doing this in Colorado. The environment has changed so much in the last ten years. With the help of Bicycle Colorado people are beginning to see that bicycles do belong on the road, and that it is a perfectly safe place for a bike. Times have changed a lot, but we have a long way to go at the same time.
ColoBikeLaw.com cycling team, tell me about it.
Well the club that was nice enough to take a never-ever racer, let me join them in 2003, and coached me into racing is the club that I now sponsor. In 2007 we were losing our title sponsor and I had the opportunity to step in and take that role. The team is comprised of some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. I'm also on their board of directors.
Do you offer legal counsel to any other organizations?
Yes, I offer my pro bono services to other bike advocacy organizations on the local level such as Bike Denver, county organizations, communities, I also lecture and have taught seminars - pretty much anyone who asks.
Do you have any closing remarks?
I have some big goals for what we can accomplish in the years ahead, but to not acknowledge the gains we've made in the past ten years would be a shame. I'm really proud to be a part of that. I think it's great that cyclists have resources. I'm excited for what is going to come next in the cycling community.