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Category: Pikes Peak Bulletin

  • Marc Wilson – Transportation Q&A

    Marc Wilson – Transportation Q&A

    Marc Wilson with his bike at Fields Park

    Greetings from Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou (PaCMan)! Ever wonder where to meet new friends? Try Manitou’s Day of Friendship where this past July, we were honored to meet Marc Wilson whose exuberance for bicycling was palpable as he visited our table. Marc had lots to say about the benefits, miles traveled, and joy of bicycling. We hope that you find his active transportation perspective inspiring to give it a try as well. Remember active transportation can be as simple as replacing a short errand by walking, rolling, taking a shuttle, or carpooling. Thank you.

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

    I moved to Manitou Springs in 1999,  after my high school sweetheart said, “Come back to Colorado.” I love the mountains.  My dad, brother and I drove through Manitou in the late 1950’s.  I remember having lunch at the Dutch Kitchen.  I would never believe that I would be living up the street 50 years later. 

    I chose to live here,  because I like small towns,  and wanted to get away from the big city.  Also, Manitou was in close proximity to my employment.

    What are the pros/cons of cycling/walking/rolling/taking shuttles/bus in Manitou?

    My main mode of transportation in Manitou is cycling.  Pros are exercise and freedom from tourist traffic. Cons are potholes, tourist traffic, and loose gravel on roadways.
     
    What infrastructure and/or esthetic improvement would have the most positive impact on your cycling experiences in Manitou? 

    Improved road conditions.  More bike trails. Better city planning and zoning for trails of small towns similar to Telluride and Aspen. More green open spaces and less concrete.

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

    I would say that cycling, walking, or taking a trolley are easier modes of transportation to navigate in Manitou in order to avoid tourist traffic and get some exercise.  You will save time waiting in congested traffic, less stress, and feel better.

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

    Local awareness, better city planning and improved bikes lanes. I am very pleased that Manitou Springs City Government has increased safety for pedestrian crosswalks and walkways. 

    I was impressed to see PaCMan at the Manitou Springs City Government #DayOfFriendship last month and to learn about your community outreach on Facebook.  I really appreciate PaCMan for raising pedal transportation awareness here in Manitou. Also, the bicycle friendly motel, Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort,  is a great lodge that brings bicycle enthusiasts to Manitou from all over the world—and their live music is great too!

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

    I’m retired, so I ride my bicycle to Silver Key Senior Lunch at St. Andrew’s Church.  I really enjoy riding though Manitou.  After lunch, I read my book by Fountain Creek in Soda Springs Park. I also walk my bike along the sidewalks just to see all the tourists. Manitou Springs is such a friendly community! 

    On the weekends, if I need just a couple of grocery items, I will ride my bike to Safeway along the back roads and trails. Field’s Park is another peaceful place to ride through on my way to Safeway.  The Adams Crossing Bridge is convenient to cross the road, and it has quite the history. Google it sometime!

    I love the Creek Walk Trail, even though they concreted it. I used to call it the “Pool Trail” because it goes by the Manitou Springs Pool and Fitness Center.  Another great place to ride your bike too and take a cool swim on a hot summer day! From the Manitou Pool, I sometimes ride to the Garden of the Gods Balanced Rock and meditate on finding balance in my life! From Balance Rock, I do the loop to the Trading Post to have lunch. I feel like a kid riding down the hill to the Trading Post! Great place to have a hot dog in their garden and feel like a tourist! 

    I also love riding up to the Miramont Castle Museum. They have a beautiful garden. I like to read in their garden. I always say a prayer to Whitney Hendrickson, who died in a tragic accident. She has a beautiful memorial in the Miramont garden.  

    A wonderful experience I had in the Miramont garden… I was reading my book, and a group of students sat on the lawn in a circle and shared their pizza with each other. They noticed Whitney’s memorial in the park, and they said she died when she was only 18.  They told me they were having a memorial for Shui Wei, a pet goldfish.  They said he was a Chinese fish. 水位. One student said her parents called him Segway. I smiled and laughed a little. The students invited me to Shui Wei’s funeral, which was very nice of them. I gave my blessings to Shui Wei. All I can say is what a nice generation of kids we have today who were all honoring a pet goldfish. I was also honored, and I believe Whitney was smiling from heaven.  Thank you, Manitou students, for sharing Shui Wei with me. 

    I feel that riding a bike, I experience more of life. I use my car very little.  I do drive to the grocery store once a month. Sometimes, I take the Manitou Free Shuttle and #3 MMT bus to the movies or downtown. I have 70k miles on my car after 14 years. Most of my car miles are driving to state and national parks, where I bring my bike and trail ride.  I also walk trails, and cross-country ski. 

    My favorite places in Colorado to mountain bike, walk or ski are Teluride; Lyons; Rocky Mountain National Park; Steamboat Springs; Cuchara; St. Elmo; Mueller State Park, Gold Camp Road and Cottonwood Lake. Spring Creek, near Cottonwood, is my favorite place to go to see the Aspens and have a drink of clear spring water from the source where Spring Creek flows from. It’s my secret sacred place to ride to and meditate. 

    In my younger years, a group of us, called Mountain Madness, would ride from the Springs, on Gold Camp Road, to Cripple Creek and stay overnight at the old Hospitality House in Cripple Creek, and then ride back to the Springs the next morning. The Mountain Madness ride to Cripple Creek was started by Tom Keeley. a resident of Manitou. He’s the fellow in the below photo, wearing a tank top. Tom passed away a couple of years ago. A great guy and mountain bike enthusiast!

    When I travel to foreign countries, I rent a bike and tour. I’ve done bicycle tours throughout Thailand; Quito and Galapagos, Ecuador. My recent Mexico bike tours include Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and biker friendly Guadalajara.  The below selfie is from my day ride on the Malecón, in La Paz, México last October.

    Enjoy the journey! Keep pedaling down the Road of Happy Destiny!

  • Page Talerico – Transportation Q&A

    Page Talerico – Transportation Q&A

    Paige Talerico with her electric bicycle outside her place of work

    Greetings from Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou (PaCMan)! We’d like to introduce you to Manitou Springs resident artist, sustainability farmer, and Colorado E-Bike voucher recipient, Paige Talerico. You may know her as one of the quartet of artists who created the colorful, recently unveiled murals at 441 Manitou Avenue. No matter where Paige decides to go or who she interacts with, she lives her life by example. One such action is to tread kindly on the earth by her transportation choices. We hope that you find inspiration from her active transportation story.

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

    I have lived in Manitou Springs for over three years. I chose to live here to be near to Flying Pig Farm and I love the community I have found in Manitou. I have taught, farmed, and worked as an artist in Manitou Springs for three years. I teach at Flying Pig Farm and Manitou Elementary, and work as a farmer at Smokebrush Farm.  

    What is your primary mode of transportation to get to work in Manitou?

    I mostly walk or bike to work. 

    Can you tell us a little about your Colorado State E-Bike voucher experience? Would you have been able to afford an electric bicycle without the state rebate?

    I’m grateful to have received a Colorado State E-Bike voucher, as I wouldn’t have chosen to purchase an e-bike without it. 

    What are the pros/cons of walking/rolling in Manitou? 

    I enjoy walking around Manitou, especially along Fountain Creek, where the slower pace allows me to observe my surroundings. 

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

    When I need to get somewhere quickly, I prefer to bike rather than drive, especially to avoid the congestion of tourists downtown and the limited free parking. I would love to see more bike lanes around Manitou.

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

    I think the E-bike voucher program is an excellent way to make active transportation more accessible throughout Manitou and suggest that the City of Manitou Springs offer another E-Bike voucher program to residents in the future.

  • Ruth Markwardt – PaCMan introduces E-Bike Voucher recipient

    Ruth Markwardt – PaCMan introduces E-Bike Voucher recipient

    Ruth (and Barak) Markwardt with her electric bicycle

    Greetings from Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou (PaCMan)! As you may know, PaCMan advocates for safe, convenient, and accessible mobility experiences for residents and visitors in Manitou Springs. This includes sharing perspectives from people who live, work, or visit Manitou Springs using multimobility to get around. Please meet Manitou E-Bike voucher recipient and stalwart sustainability advocate, Ruth Markwardt. Ruth shares how she utilizes her E-Bike as transportation to and from work, and for other errands. We hope that you will take a moment to read her story and encourage others to replace car trips with an active transportation or other multimobility option. 

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

    I have lived in Manitou since 2018. After living in the area since 2010 and working on different urban and rural farms I moved to Manitou to come be a part of the amazing community at Flying Pig Farm!

    Why did you apply for an E-Bike voucher and how has it benefited/changed your life and transportation experiences?

    I applied for an E-Bike voucher to help get a bike I can realistically commute on. I work Southeast of downtown Colorado Springs so on a non-electrified bike it is hard to motivate for the 45-60min uphill bike home after a long work day. Now with my E-Bike, my commute only takes 30 minutes and I get some movement in without breaking too much of a sweat in either direction. It’s a lot more pleasant than being stuck in traffic and I save on gas. I also have a backup mode of transportation for when our ancient (360,000 miles) car is out of commission or being used by my partner.

    How do you utilize your E-Bike: work/volunteer job, attending classes/school, Socializing, Get Home, Run Errands/shop, Pickup Someone Else/children, Trips Elsewhere such as pleasure/exercise?

    I use them for all of the above–except my bike is not a cargo bike so I don’t pick up others with it.

    During an average week, how many round-trip E-Bike rides do you estimate that you take using your new e-bike?  

    6 roundtrip rides per week

    On average, how many miles do you estimate each of your E-Bike rides are? 

    12 miles roundtrip on average

    Do you own or have regular access to an automobile or other private vehicle? 

    Yes, but it is shared with my partner and is not always reliable as its quite old/high mileage!

    During an average week, how many of your E-Bike rides do you estimate have replaced private vehicle trips (including Lyft, Uber, taxi)? 

    6 rides / week (roundtrip)

    Would you have made this purchase without Manitou Springs E-Bike rebate? No

    Before purchasing an E-Bike, how did you get around and how often did you use those modes of transportation?

    Primarily private vehicle and bussing, with some walking and occasional Uber/Lyft.

    What are the pros/cons of walking/rolling/bicycling/taking transit or shuttles in Manitou?

    Some Pros are that it is fun. You can be on trails instead of roads, save money, and prevent gas emissions. Some cons are that you have to be very careful on major roadways and go slow as Colorado Springs/Manitou drivers can be careless. The Midland Trail is a wonderful resource that gets me most of the way to work most days!

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

    More bike lanes! More pedestrian emphasis.

    What do you think would increase more people using bicycles/walking/taking transit or shuttles in Manitou?

    Not sure! 

    What advice would you give someone who would like to give active transportation in Manitou a try but does not have much time nor the resources?

    I often find that when I feel “too busy” to ride my bike somewhere its exactly the time I mentally need to slow down to give myself the time to get some exercise, be outside, and take an extra 5-10 minutes to get to my destination. Active transportation also can help eliminate the need to go to the gym and can add years to your life, it’s worth it in the long run!

  • Quiana Glaze – Manitou Springs resident has become devoted ambassador for e-bikes

    Quiana Glaze – Manitou Springs resident has become devoted ambassador for e-bikes

    Quiana Glaze with her electric bicycle in downtown Manitou Springs

    Qiana Glaze’s face beams as she recites her experience as a recipient of Manitou Springs’ Ebike voucher program. She lightly sips on a cup of coffee from The Loft as we lean in from across the table to hear each other speak. The room is filled with many happily chatting visitors. Cody serves up smiles behind the counter as he greets customers who wander inside and settle in to soak up the good vibes, colors, and conversation with family and friends.

    Qiana has had plantar fasciitis from serving tables for decades, but she still walks—as transportation. She had no idea that Manitou was offering residents one year + at the middle and low-income levels financial assistance to purchase an Ebike of their own until a friend who got theirs told her about it. Qiana made a wish and set her intention hoping that she would be selected to receive a voucher of her own—and it worked! She now uses her Ebike to get groceries from Safeway on Colorado Avenue, take her dog for runs, and gets out and about more.

    Before her Ebike, Qiana mainly walked, took the bus—especially during the zero fare for cleaner air program, and carpooled. Today she asserts using her Ebike is faster than walking, taking the bus or having to coordinate a ride. In fact, she considers her Ebike a car—as do many of her friends. And for so many other residents, this program is the only way they could have even considered purchasing an Ebike.

    A Manitou resident off and on for 25 years and car-free for three, Qiana’s appreciation is infectious as she smiles while speaking of the gratitude, she feels for having been selected to receive a voucher.  “This is our home,” states Qiana. “Manitou picked me. However, it’s hard enough to live here and find parking. If you have a bicycle, you can get around more easily and not add to congestion and poor air quality.” Having already put over 100 miles on her Ebike, she recounts with excitement a recent trip to Mountain Mama exclaiming that Manitou and Colorado Springs are perfect for Ebikes with side streets that offer the potential for our communities to become bike friendly cities such as Boulder, CO. “Everyone wants to be in this joint (Colorado) for its beauty and fresh air. In fact, I visited Garden of the Gods Park and didn’t have to sit in traffic like everyone else!”

    Qiana adds that “every day is nice out” and rides her bike each chance she gets, even on cooler cloudy days in winter. She has also been talking with her mother about applying for a voucher stating, “Mom is a young 70+ year old and loves being active. An Ebike would be perfect for her.” 

    When asked what the pros and cons are of bicycling in Manitou Qiana exclaimed, “We need more bike racks to park where you actually want to visit in Manitou and Old Colorado City. Our communities lack well-placed racks that are easy to find and serve you where you are going.” She adds, “All our little paths and roads where we can’t take any more cars should be designated for bikes and walking only. This helps reduce road maintenance and air pollution, and a more walkable town also helps tourism and the economy.” When visiting where she grew up in Atlanta, GA about five years ago she states she “could not believe the traffic everywhere,” and feels that America should become an “Ebike nation.”

    Qiana also believes that to increase more people using Ebikes and other micromobility in Manitou would be to offer the Ebike voucher program again. However, advises a stronger marketing effort such that more residents are aware when the program is made available. “I have so many friends who didn’t even know the program existed,” she adds.

    Finally, Qiana’s long-term goal is to tow her dog behind her Ebike. This would involve getting a trailer and extra batteries, with the goal in mind to tour the U.S. allthewhile staying at hotels and seeing the sites and beauty from the seat of a bicycle! “A bicycle path from Colorado Springs to Denver,” would also be nice and exclaims, “can you imagine being able to cycle to Red Rocks Amphitheater?”

    Qiana feels that residents hardly get any benefits from tourism, but the fruitcake toss and maybe a few other events. However, this Ebike voucher program is a “game changer,” helps residents in need, and shows that the Mayor and city care about residents. “I would not have been able to afford an Ebike without this assistance, and I appreciate that I am a recipient of this program,” says Qiana. She feels like having an Ebike is equivalent to having a car—but better—and hopes to see more people like her on bicycles.

  • Matt Jones – Trail runner enjoys riding his bicycle to Manitou from Colorado Springs

    Matt Jones – Trail runner enjoys riding his bicycle to Manitou from Colorado Springs

    Matt Jones and partner riding bicycles in Colorado Springs

    Greetings from Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou (PaCMan)! It is with great pleasure that we introduce Pikes Peak Marathon volunteer, and frequent Manitou Springs trail runner and visitor, Matt Jones. From time to time, we meetup with people who chose to visit Manitou utilizing active mobility options outside of cars. Matt is one such visitor. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank him for being a volunteer in support of one of our many local events. Matt would also like to say that he “hope[s] that his involvement with the Pikes Peak Marathon could be helpful in building a coalition around active transportation and implementing solutions.” 

    How long have you been working in Manitou Springs as a volunteer and for which organization?

    I have been volunteering with the Pikes Peak Marathon since July of 2021. I also briefly worked with the Colorado Springs Parks, Trails and Open Space program to assist with the Manitou Incline Reservation system. 

    How often do you visit Manitou?

    I visit Manitou about 3 times per month on average throughout the year. 

    What are the pros/cons of walking/running/rolling/taking shuttles or buses to get to/around Manitou?

    If time isn’t an issue, I prefer to bike to Manitou from my home in Colorado Springs. I’m able to easily connect on multiple trail systems before riding down Colorado-Manitou Ave. I would say that Manitou Ave from Schryver Park to City Hall could improve bike friendliness. The best bike through area is El Paso Blvd, with some of the best views and decent bike lanes.

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

    It would be great to see more bike signs and promotions of the bike route on El Paso Blvd. As a trail runner I think of Manitou as the gateway to the Mountains, whether it’s Barr Trail, the Intemann Trail, or the Ute Pass Trail, there’s an unlimited amount of routes and adventures from the trailheads in Manitou. However, balancing a long run and parking have become quite a pain and honestly a deterrent. Hopefully, I’m not oversharing my personal best parking spots, but if I’m planning to run in Manitou I’ll park at the Trading Post or in Red Rock Canyon Open Space to access the trails in Manitou. It definitely adds some miles to a run, but it’s worth it to save dollars over the long run. 

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

    I would recommend doing a test run/ride on a day off to work out any concerns about time constraints to help dispel any misconceptions about challenges of changing our travel habits. Riding a bike always opens you up to new areas, views, businesses and people you may meet along the way!

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

    Education! I think there is a huge mental barrier to changing your mode of transportation. I think more videos on how to plan effective and safe routes with a visual representation would help immensely. Before I started commuting to Manitou and anywhere else on a bike, there was always a sense of hesitancy and anxiety about the routes. Once I rode the route, I was relieved by the ease and the satisfaction of enjoying our one of a kind outdoor spaces. Any resources committed to increasing the awareness, access and ease would make exponential changes in the mentality around active transportation. 

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

    Most typical travel has always been driving my personal car. I have also parked in Old Colorado City, taken the bus and rented a PikeRide bike with my partner Jess to ride to our friend’s wedding at the Craftwood Inn. In the future it would be great to see a bus route dedicated to our area’s open spaces and parks. This would be a great service for our local outdoor community and for the millions of visitors every year. Imagine a bus route that would have a stop at the top 10 destinations of every visitor. There’s nothing worse than planning out your day in nature to have to change plans due to the lack of available parking at a trailhead.