Category: E-Bikes

Greetings! Christina is a PaCMan member, has volunteered to write our MACH grant requests and reports, helped staff the volunteer Manitou Springs Elementary School Wichita Lot Crossing Guard Program (2022-2024), has been an amazing member on the Manitou Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PARAB), successfully applied for a Manitou Springs Garden Club grant and implemented a garden beautification project near her home that benefits the entire neighborhood, passersby, and #pollinators—and the list goes on! Christina truly epitomizes helping community and #spreadspositivity wherever she goes.

Did you know that she also #cycles, walks, and takes #publictransportation as transportation? We hope that you are inspired by her story and will help us replace car trips once a week by walking, cycling, PikeRide #ebikeshare, shuttles, and/or public transportation.

How long have you been living in Manitou Springs and why did you choose to live here?

Love brought me to Manitou Springs in 2002 from Madison, WI.  My boyfriend, now partner of 25 years, had recently moved to Manitou from Madison to live with his dad.  Six months later, I moved too.  We both fell in love with Manitou and have built a life here. We still live in the same house just off of Lover’s Lane. Now we have a 13-year-old son, and we all live in grandpa’s big old house (he’s still here too). I remember the first time I saw Manitou Springs. It was nighttime when we arrived. We turned off of Hwy 24 onto Sunshine Trail and then onto Washington where there is a great view of the town.  All I could see were twinkling lights on the hillsides and the enchanting little town down below.  I couldn’t believe it, it seemed like a dream.  

What are the pros/cons of bicycling/walking/rolling/taking shuttles/public transit to get around in Manitou?

The ability to get around Manitou without hopping in the car has greatly enhanced my whole family’s quality of life. My family members and I can walk or bike everywhere we want to go in Manitou-out to dinner, the post office, out to enjoy music, the library or an art opening.  My son gets to school independently by walking to the elementary school and taking a school bus to the SILC building. At 13 years old, he has complete agency of how he gets around. This is great for his growth, development and self-confidence as a young person and great for his social life!  How many kids in the United States have this amount of freedom and agency?  It also means my husband and I don’t have to drive him here or there as much which frees up our time to work or rest or recreate. There are so many pros that are really immeasurable. There are health benefits, environmental impacts, connection to community and so much more!

Please tell us about your e-Bike experience. Were you able to apply for and utilize an e-Bike voucher to make an e-Bike purchase? If so, which e-Bike voucher program did you qualify for: Manitou’s e-Bike voucher program or the Colorado State e-Bike rebate?

I bought an e-bike in September, and I’ve been riding about 6 miles to work and back in Colorado Springs almost every day that I work. I work 3 days a week. I purchased my e-bike at a retailer in Colorado Springs. They applied the $450 e-bike voucher that is currently available through the State of Colorado right at the register. It was really easy. I didn’t really have to do anything. The voucher instantly subtracted $450 off of the price of the bike. The retailer then will get reimbursed by the state when they claim it on their taxes. This program has since permanently closed.

How has having an e-Bike changed your life/affected your life in a positive way?

I love riding my bike to work. It’s fun, engaging, I can breathe the fresh air and experience the local environment.  I have a somewhat stressful job as a healthcare provider so biking to and from work helps me maintain good mental health as well as physical health. It’s likely that I arrive to work and at home in a better mood and if I ride my bike to work even twice per week, I have no problem hitting the recommended 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise!  If you haven’t noticed, we live in a beautiful place, biking through Garden of the Gods and seeing the ever-changing view of the Peak makes for unbeatable scenery. I recognize that I am very privileged to live in Manitou, afford an e-bike and to have the ability and health to ride a bike to work.  Since I am afforded all of these privileges, I feel the responsibility to take one car off the road and give Mother Nature some love. 

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

I would love a dedicated and protected bike lane that goes both directions all the way down Manitou Ave and through Old Colorado City. Currently I ride on El Paso Blvd from Manitou Springs to Colorado Springs which is lovely during the day but rather dark at night. I’m not a huge fan of adding more streetlights as this has a negative impact on wildlife. Since Manitou Ave is already a major thoroughfare with streetlights, it makes to have a bike lane there especially if we want to encourage folks to commute by bike. I would also like to see more bike racks at businesses and destinations throughout the city so that bike parking is safe and convenient. This will encourage more people to ride their bikes.

What advice would you give someone who would like to give active transportation in Manitou a try?

Manitou is full of special places, hidden surprises and magic.  By choosing to get around by walking or rolling, you will be rewarded in more ways than you imagined. You will encounter wildlife, see artwork, hear live music, see birds flying overhead and have a chance to put your feet in the creek. If you want to experience what makes Manitou special, give it a try! 

What do you think would increase more bicycling/walking/rolling/public transit use in Manitou?

It needs to feel safe, easy and enjoyable to get around without a car. Continuing to create infrastructure that promotes safety for pedestrians and people outside of cars is key.  We need to prioritize our youngest schoolchildren.  If they can walk, bike, scoot or take a bus to school independently, then we have done our job to promote safe mobility in our community.

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

Depending on where I’m going, I use different modalities. I do quite a lot of walking around the downtown area.  If I’m going someplace outside the downtown area, like the pool, Field’s Park or the Buffalo Lodge, I typically ride my bike. I don’t often use the free shuttle, but I recommend it frequently to out-of-town visitors that want to ride the cog or do the incline and avoid trying to find a parking spot.  My family used to use the free shuttle a lot when my son was younger because he thought it was fun. The shuttle is really helpful for parents with little kids that get tired out as well as older people and visitors that aren’t used to the altitude.

Is there anything else you think we should know about you that would help inspire others to use active transportation?

For me a big motivator is seeing other people doing it.  I hope that when others see me biking to work, they feel encouraged to try it themselves. I’m not a super athlete or an absolutist in any way.  However, I do know that if I can bike to work even part of the time, it will make a difference for my health, my community and the planet. 

Thanks to Helene Gallaway for being our #activetransporation interviewee this month (Oct 2025)! Maybe you’ve seen Helene rolling up her sleeves as a volunteer in the #manitousprings community–and elsewhere–for many great causes. Perhaps you’ve seen her in town picking up trash with the Kiwanis Club of Manitou Springs bucket brigade or see her FB posts on the CAWG – Climate Action Working Group of Manitou Springs, including staffing their events. No matter where Helene may be seen helping others, she does it with a smile and most likely arrived via her preferred way of getting around–an #ebike. We hope that you find Helene’s interview inspiring and will consider replacing one car trip via #walking #rolling or #publictransit. And if you are utilizing active transportation to arrive or get around Manitou as a visitor, employee, or call Manitou home, please DM us! We’d like to share your story as well. 😄

How long have you been living in Manitou Springs and why did you choose to live here?

My husband Larry and I officially moved here in May of 2024. Our son lives in Colorado Springs and every time we came to visit him over the years we ended up spending most of our time in Manitou Springs. We fell in love with so many aspects of Manitou: the arts culture, the beautiful setting, and most of all the people. In a short time, we’ve made friends who feel like we’ve known them for years.

What are the pros/cons of bicycling/walking/rolling/taking shuttles/public transit to work and to get around in Manitou? (Please speak to whichever modality you utilize most. You will have an opportunity to talk about the other modalities you use in another question below.)

The pros of using my e-bike to get around Manitou are numerous. Of course, there’s the aspect of not having to worry about parking but, for me, nothing beats being able to see the gorgeous landscape surrounding us. I also love stopping to talk to neighbors that I happen to pass on my ride. Getting extra fresh air, exercise, and knowing that I’m not contributing to traffic congestion and air pollution are all pros as well.

As for cons, I occasionally have difficulty finding a bike rack with space to accommodate my e-bike. And then there is always the “helmet hair” that I sport when I arrive at my destination! Riding home in the dark can feel daunting so I’ve added extra lights and reflective strips on my bike and wear a bright reflective utility vest for better visibility. Adjusting my clothing to the weather and visibility are easy enough though so I don’t really consider that to be a con.

Please tell us about your e-Bike experience. Were you able to apply for and utilize an e-Bike voucher to make an e-Bike purchase? If so, which e-Bike voucher program did you qualify for: Manitou’s e-Bike voucher program or the Colorado State e-Bike rebate?

We purchased our e-bikes from a bike shop right here in Manitou and utilized the Colorado State rebate. The shop took care of filing everything, making the process extremely easy.  We were able to test ride multiple models of bike to see which fit best, making sure we both felt comfortable and confident on our bikes. 

How has having an e-Bike changed your life/affected your life in a positive way?

Where to start with this question? I have severe arthritis in my hip, so the e-bike has made cycling accessible for me, especially on the many hills around here. Running local errands without having to use my car is liberating and riding on a beautiful day is great for my state of mind. I started riding last spring and have just under 500 miles on my bike, all from using it for short 2-3 mile trips (replacing about 150 car trips!).

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

While I find Manitou to generally be pretty bike friendly along my usual routes, I would love to see an adjustment made to the parking at the corner of El Paso and Manitou Ave by the locomotive. The first few back-in parking spaces at the corner block visibility when trying to turn onto Manitou Ave when coming from the Memorial and Mansions Park areas. This isn’t a problem for only cyclists; drivers of cars often have to pull out across the crosswalk to see oncoming traffic, making it difficult for walkers or cyclists to cross. 

I do want to commend the city for lowering the speed limit to 20mph. Traffic calming and slowing makes it safer for cyclists and pedestrians alike. I also appreciate the fresh painting of the bike lane symbols along El Paso Blvd. The larger, brighter symbols are much more visible. 

What advice would you give someone who would like to give active transportation in Manitou a try?

Go for it! Rent an e-bike for an hour to see how you like it. Take the shuttle bus to an event in town. Download the Mountain Metro Transit App and become familiar with the local routes. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing – replace one or two trips with a different mode of transportation and enjoy not worrying about parking or traffic. If you do decide to purchase an e-bike, go try a number of different models to see which fits you best and try to buy local. I appreciate being able to easily get my bike in for routine maintenance without having to load it in my car. 

What do you think would increase more bicycling/walking/rolling/public transit use in Manitou?

This may sound silly but seeing more people using alternative forms of transportation is a strong motivator. Beyond that I would like to see some sort of incentive for those who use other forms of transportation. This could be something along the lines of a coupon or tokens for shuttle riders or a small discount if you ride your bike for a coffee. 

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

We use the #33 bus from Fields Park on a regular basis. We’ve had to make some adjustments with the recent change in routes, but it has generally been easy to learn the new times and stops. The drivers are always courteous and the buses are clean. It is also fun to strike up conversations with other riders (who are usually very jealous when they find out we actually LIVE here).

Is there anything else you think we should know about you that would help inspire others to use active transportation?

I appreciate everything that PaCMan does to advocate for alternative modes of transportation here and across the region. Having knowledge of safe biking principles, sharing tips and routes, and setting such positive examples of how cycling can be fun and effective, have all given me the confidence and enthusiasm to ride more and more each week. 
Thank you!

This month please meet City of Manitou Springs Government City Council member Nathan Nassif (Ward 1), Manitou Housing Board Council liaison, Manitou Mobility and Parking Council liaison, and PaCMan member who is not a stranger to rolling up his sleeves to contribute to many great causes in the community. He and his partner, Vanessa, recently applied for the #coloradoebiketaxcredit and were able to add two #electric bikes to their transportation options which helps them cut down on car trips! Find out more about the Colorado E-bike credit .

How long have you lived in Manitou Springs and why did you choose to live here?

My wife Vanessa and I are grateful that Manitou “found us” after 25 years in the Northeast. We knew very quickly what a special community this is. It reminds me a lot of the neighborly culture in Pittsburgh, PA where I grew up in the 70s and 80s.  Since arriving here over a year or so ago, we have not taken a single day for granted and have been very engaged with civic and volunteer activities within the community.

Can you also tell us how you get around Manitou using active transportation and how often?

I estimate 70% of my transportation is by bike, walking, or public transportation. My goal over the next year is 85% or more. I think this is reachable.

If you have ever received a state ebike voucher or other assistance purchasing an ebike can you tell us a little about how that has benefited your quality of life in Colorado?

Colorado’s e-bike voucher can provide a significant savings and it is very efficiently processed at point-of-sale. Vanessa and I were both fortunate to qualify for the Colorado e-bike voucher. We each received a $450 dollar discount applied to our purchase of two moderately priced Class 2 e-assist bikes. Given that over 65% of Manitou’s land area is at a 30 percent or greater slope, the e-assist bike has been a game changer for us; allowing us to use our bikes as a means of transport (versus solely recreation).

What are the pros/cons of cycling to get around Manitou?

I know there is a lot of energy and work behind the scenes in trying to make Manitou a model community for the best in mobility and multi-modal transportation (PaCMan, MAP Board, new Mobility & Parking Director). Currently, I think cycling, walking, and shuttling to and from Manitou as a destination is “relatively” safe and accessible for individuals of all abilities. As a cyclist, it helps to know some of the roads and paths off the busier streets like Manitou Ave. The free shuttle program is outstanding though wait times can sometimes run long and the user experience sitting in a confined shuttle leaves a lot to be desired.

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

Over the short-term, I would love to see the existing bike/walk sharrows colored and more visible. And over the medium-term, more “protected” bike lanes with the use of bollards as is currently done on the upper portion of Ruxton Avenue. Certain streets are of course constrained by their width. 

I would also love to see a fun and user-friendly tram system come back online that would showcase and encourage residents/tourists to more fully take advantage of our stunning downtown and natural surroundings that is more difficult to do when confined in shuttles and buses. 

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

Shadow a friend or family member who has embraced the active transport lifestyle for a single day or week or month! Having a lived day-in-the-life experience can make a valuable difference. 

What do you think would increase more active transportation/shuttle/transit use in Manitou?

The three main things that come to mind include raising awareness, an openness to practice, and, if possible, experiencing a city that ranks highly on the mobility index