Ben Schmitt is the City of Manitou Springs Government’s Public Services Director and City Engineer, and regularly rides his bicycle to work. Ben enjoys replacing short car trips and errands with his electric bicycle which makes getting to/from home and work a breeze, and he encourages others to do the same. Riding a bike is a great way to exercise, to get around Manitou, supports Manitou’s multi-modal vision, and is an excellent way to experience our community in a different way.
But don’t take our word for it, you can listen to Ben’s perspective below.
Every now and again we experience chance encounters with other micro-mobility users. Active transportation offers these chance opportunities to interact with the environment, to make discoveries, and even make new friends.
Heather Pitts was one such encounter on an warm late winter day. Heather, who prefers to get around on a skateboard, bicycle, or public transit greeted us with a smile, pointed out a sing-songing bird nearby, and immediately made us feel like comrades.
Heather is the Theatre Manager at the The Millibo Art Theatre and uses all forms of modalities to get around. Thanks to Heather for sharing her mobility perspectives with us, including a friendly reminder that the Mountain Metropolitan Transit Zero Fare #3 bus is a great way to get to/from Manitou and Colorado Springs!
How often to do you visit ManitouSprings and what is your preferred method of active transportation getting to/from and around Manitou?
I live in Manitou Springs. My preferred method of active transportation I like to use for getting to/from/around Manitou is my skateboard. I also use an E-Bike, I walk, and I ride the bus (#3).
What infrastructure and/or esthetic improvement would have the most positive impact on your active transportation experiences in Manitou?
Manitou has a wonderful trail for skateboarding and bike riding, the Creek Walk Trail which connects to the Midland Trail.
The most positive impact however, would be the fact that the city is making the #3 metro bus free. The city’s recent improvement of the sidewalk leading into downtown Ave was a welcomed one (Phase 4 Creek Walk Trail). Before, the sidewalk was extremely uneven, making it quite a dangerous ride. With the recent sidewalk expansion, my ride into downtown Manitou has increased exponentially in terms of use and safety.
What advice would you give someone who would like to give active transportation a try?
That it connects you to the community; it expands your community.
When you ride the bus, you have the opportunity to grow your neighborhood. Learn about other people. Saving money alone is wonderful (especially when the #3 is free), but having a sense of community is rewarding. It benefits your mental health and awareness of what is going on in town and who the people are in it.
What do you think would increase more walking, rolling, and public transit use in Manitou?
The 3 being free is going to increase pedestrian access.
However, if you want to see a bigger increase, then promoting a “CarFreeDay” would probably help. More access to rentable e-bikes and e-scooters (there are no rentable scooters in Manitou). And perhaps rewarding those that take the bus.
This may sound juvenile, but back in elementary school, when students would do well in homework, assignments, or the like, they were often rewarded with a coupon for free French fries/ice cream at McDonalds.
I am certain that there are local businesses (like ice cream shops, food stores, pubs) that would offer free coupons to reward those who ride the bus in, or e-biked in, or walked. With local businesses offering a reward, it would bring in more business, and encourage others to participate in walking, rolling, or using public transport.
What other form(s) of transportation do you use and what has that experience been like? Besides my skateboard, walking, and the bus, I use my car. However, my experience with car transportation is growing more and more negatively as the years go by.
Often, people get road rage; many are so angry behind the wheel, that NEVER happens on my board or walking (occasionally there is someone mad on the bus, but they keep it to themselves). Also, gas for the car is expensive, the chance of me getting into an accident goes up when behind the wheel. The experience of personally driving a vehicle (for me) is not the best one.
Finally, is there anything else we should know about you that would encourage more people to use micro-mobility to get around?
I think encouraging those at a younger age is the best way to get more people to use micromobility. If someone has never taken the bus or any other kind of public transport, by the time they make it to adulthood, it becomes a bit daunting (because it’s new and new is sometimes scary).
If elementary school-aged kids are taught about the bus system, e-bikes, and scooters, and are not only encouraged to use it, but SHOWN how to use it, they would want to use it more (because when you’re young , it’s a lot of fun!) public transportation is not taught in schools…maybe it should be.
Riding your bike puts a smile on your face and makes the cloudiest day brighter. PaCMan encourages you to shed your personal monster and go for a ride today.
Hi I’m Brandon Sutton I live in here in Colorado Springs on the westside and I live car-free. That means I take the bus, bike, or walk everywhere. That includes Manitou Springs, other places in Colorado Springs like where I work and even all the way up to Denver.
What’s really important to me is getting other people out here in the community to just replace one or two trips maybe in their week. Maybe it’s regular errands or taking the kids and family out for fun with one of those modes of transportation and see how easy and fun it can be!
