Author: pacman

Thanks to the @ppbulletinnews Pikes Peak Bulletin newspaper for sharing this #activetransportation story.

Greetings from PaCMan! Thank you to all the locals and employees who agreed to share their active transportation experiences with us this year. Your perspectives have been insightful and inspiring too. We are pleased to bookend the year with a story from ten-year resident and active transportation enthusiast, Stephanie Wurtz, who has lots of ideas about how to make our community more walkable and bikeable for everyone.

How long have you been a resident and why did you choose to live in Manitou Springs?

I’ve lived in Manitou Springs for ten years now. I moved here after living for about five years in downtown Colorado Springs. The biggest draw was the trail access and beautiful surroundings. As a trail runner and mountain biker, being able to hit the trails right out the front door is a big plus. Friends of mine—in other areas of Colorado and the country—drive 15-45min to get to their “local” trails. And that commute cuts into the play time!

The Manitou community was another selling point. It has a community-minded focus that offers opportunities for engagement and involvement, along with the plethora of events and activities we host throughout the year (for Manitou residents and the broader community). It creates a feeling that we all value our place and want to contribute to protecting and improving it.

What are the pros/cons of cycling/walking/rolling/taking transit in Manitou? (could you please talk about how you run errands, ride to work, and buy groceries using your bicycle, replacing car trips?)

Pros: I LOVE being able to regularly replace my car with a bike. I’m able to bike-commute to work (in downtown Colorado Springs) using 95% trails – the Midland Trail + Santa Fe Trail – with little need for interaction with cars. The recent addition of an e-cargo bike to our household makes running errands by bike more feasible —this summer, we’ve been hitting the grocery and the farmer’s market on one Sat. morning ride. Being able to easily bike to dinner, the brewery, or the First Fridays Art Walk is a treat and contributes to my overall quality of life. 

Cons: Limited bike lanes. Eastbound Manitou Avenue has a tiny, pothole-filled bike lane. And tourist traffic makes riding through downtown impossible during busy times (weekends especially). Plus, the sheer volume of tourist traffic means I avoid downtown Manitou a lot of the time.

What infrastructure and/or esthetic improvement would have the most positive impact on your cycling/walking/rolling/taking transit experiences in Manitou? 

Sidewalks and protected bike lanes along both Crystal Hills and Crystal Park Roads would make it more feasible to walk and ride into downtown Manitou, Old Colorado City, and elsewhere.

What about a path from the western edge near Rainbow Falls all the way through town along the creek? That would allow pedestrians and cyclists a way to get around town without getting stuck in the Manitou Ave. tourist traffic, AND it’d provide a more pleasant experience for tourists to park and stroll vs. driving through.

More bike racks! This seems like an easy win though would also require collaboration with our neighboring Colorado Springs businesses. One of the most time-consuming elements of errands by bike can be finding a secure, easy to see and access bike rack. I’ve visited grocery stores, hardware stores and restaurants where bike transport by patrons feels like an afterthought. Making it easy to roll up and lock up would make car-free (or car-limited) living more approachable.

What about adding shade or pleasant spots to park bikes or wait for a bus/shuttle? Plants, overhangs to protect from rain and sun, a spot to sit, those are things that would make public/active transport more approachable, too.

Connectivity is critical – updated maps, signage and connected paths and bike lanes are important to making the bike transport feasible.

What advice would you give someone who would like to give active transportation a try in Manitou but does not have much time? 

Use a map to identify the most bike-friendly routes around the area in advance. I’ve found that on shorter trips actually don’t take much longer by bike than by car. Start with nearby errands or try riding to one of our community festivals or events, it’s much easier to find close parking and avoid traffic slowdowns on a bike.

What do you think would increase more active transportation in Manitou? 

I think I addressed the majority of these in my infrastructure notes above. I also want to acknowledge that these kinds of improvements and investments take resources, partnerships and planning. As a community, if we come together to say these are things we value, that’s one of the first steps to increasing and encouraging accessible active transportation.

What other form(s) of transportation do you use and what has that experience been like?  Other than my bike (or a run or walk) I drive my car. I’ve learned my lesson about attempting to drive into downtown Manitou during “tourist season.” That’s a big headache and I’d like to explore solutions for reducing car traffic on our beautiful main drag.

Greetings from Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou (PaCMan). We are pleased to share another active transportation story with the community. Meet Manitou resident Scott Offord who often can be seen cycling with the Manitou Spokes, the Buffalo Lodge Bike Tribe, and the Colorado Springs Cycling Club, and rolls up his sleeves to help out with myriad of events around town. Thanks to Scott for sharing his walking and rolling experiences and for his spirit of volunteerism. Want to try rolling for fun and/or for transportation? Join one of the many cycling clubs in our area for a fun, no-drop way to try out bicycling! See you on the road.

How long have you been a resident and why did you choose to live in Manitou Springs?

Katie and I moved to Manitou in 2020 because we enjoy the small town feeling and love our townhome community. The ease of walking, cycling and public transport was a factor. 

What are the pros/cons of cycling/running/taking transit not only to work but to get around in Manitou?

Katie and I enjoy walking to Manitou businesses and enjoying activities around town. We volunteer for the fruitcake toss, wine festival, coffin races, marathon, etc.. We almost never choose to drive to town. I ride my bicycle everywhere, to include visiting my daughter who lives in Old Colorado City, to the grocery store, Walmart, and just for fun. I appreciate the fact that the Midland Trail is easily accessible. I work one day a week at a museum in downtown Colorado Springs and always ride my bicycle or take the number 3 bus if weather is bad. Our very active husky Pita loves our walks to the Red Rock Canyon dog park and back. Sometimes we cross highway 24 at 31st street with a walk light. Sometimes we cross carefully at Ridge Road. 

What infrastructure and/or esthetic improvement would have the most positive impact on your cycling/walking/running/taking transit experiences in Manitou? 

I appreciate the efforts to improve the trail towards downtown Manitou as cycling on Manitou Avenue can be tense with so many cars and distracted drivers. I have bicycled extensively since I learned to ride at age 6 and got my first bicycle.

What advice would you give someone who would like to give active transportation a try in Manitou but does not have much time? 

I encourage everyone to walk our fine town and bicycle or e-bike. Making the trip a part of daily routine is the key. 

What do you think would increase more active transportation in Manitou? 

Continuing the Creek Walk Trail further into downtown (perhaps by widening the sidewalk from the Chamber of Commerce downtown) would be great to allow residents and visitors a stress-free visit. 

What other form of transportation do you use and what has that experience been like? 

I do own a motorcycle and a sporty car but have a number of bicycles that have lasted many decades with simple maintenance. It is a seven-minute walk to the eastbound bus route 3 stop at Becker’s Lane and Manitou Avenue, and as a senior I pay only 85 cents a ride (and the bus was free from June – August this summer). My bicycle is used as long as weather permits. I am the longest lived in my family due in part to my love of cycling and the health benefits. Attached is a photo of little Scotty proudly astride his (too big, he will grow into it) first bicycle.

Greetings from Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou (PaCMan)! We are excited to introduce someone you may have met before, seen cycling along Colorado and Manitou Avenues, or perhaps toiled side-by-side as volunteers for other nonprofits. Meet Bob Purvine a long-time Pikes Peak Marathon Inc. employee and volunteer who supports so many awesome events in our communities. We think Bob is nothing short of amazing and feel honored to share his active transportation experiences with you in hopes that others will be inspired to do the same. 

How long have you worked in Manitou Springs?

5 years employed and nearly 5 years as a volunteer. So in total, about 10 years.

What are the pros/cons of cycling as transportation to work in Manitou?

Always an interesting ride.

What infrastructure and/or esthetic improvement would have the most positive impact on your cycling experiences in Manitou?

In the winter, encourage the City to plow often in order to clear roads closer to the curbs to open the cycling lane please.  

What advice would you give someone who would like to give cycling as transportation around and to Manitou a try but does not have much time?

Give it a try. You see interesting things and people along the way.

What do you think would increase more Manitou employees, residents, and visitors using active transportation?

I suggest that for an enjoyable ride to Manitou use the less traffic route from Old Colorado City by way of the Midland Trail and W. Cucharras to Ridge Road. From there, you can choose to continue your ride up the bike lanes along Manitou Ave. or cross Manitou Ave. to El Paso St. where you can take the less traveled road all the way to Lovers Lane and other back roads right to the heart of Manitou.    

What other forms of transportation do you use and what have those experiences been like?

None other than occasionally driving.

Can you tell us a little bit about the other organizations you serve here in Manitou and elsewhere?

I work with the Chamber. Our organizations share items for events. I also help them with the Coffin Races and Manitou Christmas Parade. Starlight Spectacular is another event I support, just to name a few.