Chelsea Self/Post Independent
They’re on the market.
Maybe not every single day, however on as many days as time and the climate permits, bicycle commuters are on the paved paths and dust trails of Glenwood Springs.
It has rather a lot to do with doing what they’ll to reduce their carbon footprint, not simply on Earth Day however as usually as doable 12 months spherical.
There are fringe advantages, too.
“I ride every day, or at least every day that I don’t have a car errand that I need to run,” mentioned Watkins Fulk-Gray, one of a number of metropolis of Glenwood Springs employees who bike to work regularly.
He repeatedly commutes by bike from his home close to twenty seventh Street to City Hall.
“I do it to help reduce carbon emissions, but also because I’m kind of on the road rage side of things when I’m driving,” Fulk-Gray admitted. “I also just feel like I have more energy after riding to work … and, honestly, it’s just as fast to bike around Glenwood as it is to drive.”
The bike-to-work motion gathered some main momentum in Glenwood Springs throughout the late summer time and fall of 2017 when the Grand Avenue Bridge development detour was in place.
While curiosity pale some after the new bridge was accomplished, it appeared to decide up once more throughout the pandemic.
And, with the rising recognition of electric-pedal-assist, or e-bikes, bicycle commuting round city and even between cities in the Roaring Fork Valley has turn into a tradition all its personal.
Planning pathways
Chelsea Self/Post Independent
City of Glenwood Springs transit planner Linda DuPriest mentioned she has been commuting to work by bike since the Eighties.
“In the different cities where I’ve lived and worked, I did it for exercise and just because it made sense to me,” she mentioned. “It just feels right, and especially since I have been working to plan bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure for 25 or 30 years now.”
Glenwood Springs has what DuPriest calls a “good skeleton” for bicycle commuting, with the Rio Grande Trail working by means of the center of city and good connections on the Midland Avenue facet of the Roaring Fork River and out to West Glenwood.
“But we also do have some critical safety gaps in our bike network that we’re working on,” she mentioned. “We acknowledge that those things sometimes will discourage people.”
DuPriest identifies three differing types of individuals when it comes to bike commuting.
There are the “strong and fearless” who will commute by means of any sorts of circumstances, it doesn’t matter what.
There are the “no way, no how” varieties who will possible by no means give it a attempt.
“And then you have the 50% or 60% in the middle — those are the ones that we would like to convert,” DuPriest mentioned.
Benefits of bikes
Two different Glenwood Springs Community Development Department employees, Emery Ellingson and Carlos Peugnet, are additionally common bicycle commuters.
Ellingson rides the Rio Grande all the way to Glenwood from his house in Carbondale no less than a few times every week, he mentioned.
“It’s just a really good start to your day, and it’s a beautiful ride,” he mentioned. “I like having that separation between the time when I’m at work, and when I’m at home. It does take more time, but I’ve found that separation is important for me. I just feel more relaxed when I get to work and again when I get back home.”
Peugnet rides both his e-bike or his scooter to City Hall from his house in West Glenwood most days.
“I am concerned about our carbon footprint,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t matter if we have 6 inches of snow on the path, I have a fat bike that is designed just for that.”
Peugnet agreed he feels extra energized at the starting and finish of the day when he bikes in to work.
“You have the opportunity to look around and really enjoy the beautiful place that we live in, and it costs me nothing compared to my truck, which gets about 12-13 miles per gallon,” he mentioned.
On the days he does determine to journey his scooter, he’s getting one thing round 130 miles per gallon.
“So, yeah, I’m conscious about the environment, but I’m also conscious about my wallet and not spending so much money on gas,” he mentioned.
Several Colorado Mountain College workers additionally bike to work continuously. Among them are Jeffrey Buchman, who rides from Park West in south Glenwood to the CMC Central Services constructing downtown.
“As someone who is not a fan of mornings, bike commuting gives me the opportunity to get a bit of exercise before starting work, which helps me wake up before I get to the office,” Buchman mentioned. “As an accountant, I also appreciate the money-saving aspect and reducing the wear on my car.”
Then there’s the actuality of local weather change that’s proper earlier than our eyes with reducing winter snowpack, year-round wildfires and smoke-filled skies in the summer time, he mentioned.
“Bike commuting is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint without drastically changing your routine, and thanks to the great bike trails available my commute on a bike is not noticeably longer than it takes to drive,” Buchman mentioned.
Seth Anderson works with the Isaacson School at CMC’s Spring Valley campus. He lives about 4.5 miles from campus in Spring Valley, and mentioned he rides his bike to campus most days.
“It’s the best commute in the world,” he mentioned. “I get an hour a day to look at our beautiful Mt. Sopris, herds of prancing deer and lumbering elks, and just to be outside and unplugged.
“My commute is likely the biggest savior of my mental health, and it’s not bad for my physical health, either.”
Though he admits it might be onerous to persuade most individuals who work at the campus however reside on the valley flooring to commute by bike, Anderson mentioned he hopes to set a very good instance for his 5-year-old daughter.
“It’s important to help her understand how small change has a big impact, and that it can be quite a bit of fun at the same time,” he mentioned.
Peugnet has the same message when it comes to encouraging others to give bike commuting a attempt.
“You don’t have to be a world class athlete to get up on a bike and contribute,” he mentioned, noting {that a} coworker was so impressed along with his scooter that she purchased one identical to his.
“Now she’ll be contributing to reducing that carbon footprint,” Peugnet mentioned. “And it just feels good to know you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a bike.”
Colorado and National Bike to Work Day can be celebrated on June 22, with particular occasions alongside the Rio Grande Trail and different factors round Glenwood Springs and different valley cities sponsored by Glenwood Bicycle Advocates and Clean Energy Economy for the Region.
But, that doesn’t imply it is best to wait till then to give biking to work a attempt.
Senior Reporter/Managing Editor John Stroud might be reached at 970-384-9160 or jstroud@postindependent.com.