Category: Pikes Peak Bulletin

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.

Greetings from PaCMan (Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou). We recently met a local who has chosen to live carless in Manitou Springs. Here is his story and perspectives about embracing walking and rolling as transportation. If you have an active transportation story to share with us whether you live or work in Manitou, please reach DM us on social media. 

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

I have lived in Manitou over five years now, I moved here to be closer to the mountains

What are the pros/cons of walking/taking transit/living carless in Manitou?

Being carless is great in Manitou, you can walk anywhere in 10-15 minutes. 

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

I’ve heard rumors of a Manitou to Safeway shuttle, that would make a big difference to many locals, and it would also provide more parking when Manitou gets busy.

What advice would you give someone who would like to give walking/rolling/transit as transportation in Manitou a try but does not have much time?

It’s worth whatever time you can give. 

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

Better shuttles/parking and better signs. A lot of people get here and don’t know where to park or how to get around.

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

I skate pretty regular, Manitou is great for that. They keep the roads swept. I bike several times a week and I find the drivers in Manitou to be much more careful and courteous than those in Old Colorado City.

Greetings Manitou Springs! Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou (PaCMan) here celebrating Bike Month in Colorado which happens each June. So what is Bike Month all about? Bike Month is a way for communities to offer various ways to encourage citizens to replace car trips by bike. One such opportunity to try this out is during the annual Mayor’s Ride and PaCMan’s Bike to Work or Wherever Photo Contest, where we ask participants to tag us on Facebook or Instagram with their commuting photos. We would love to hear your stories, and you could win a prize too—thanks in part to a MACH grant. For more details about the contest, please visit us on Facebook or Instagram. And speaking of cycling as transportation, we recently caught up with one such resident who uses a bicycle to get around. Thanks to Matt Carpenter for sharing his active transportation story. We hope that you enjoy his perspective below. See you on the road!

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

I started visiting Manitou in 1987 for the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon. I moved to Colorado Springs in 1991 but found I was always coming to Manitou for my longer runs. Therefore, to get easier access to Pikes Peak and the other area trails, I moved to Manitou in 1998. I took over the Colorado Custard Company in 2012. I have always run or biked to work wherever I have lived. Although I haven’t raced since 2011, I’m coming up on 11 years where I have run at least 1 hour every single day. I also have a scooter that is the perfect commute/errand vehicle for a small town like Manitou.

What are the pros/cons of cycling/running to not only work in Manitou but also to get around/run errands?

Trying to stay active and hopefully healthy is the most positive benefit. But parking, or rather not having to worry about parking, is the main driver for me. Because of our low speed limits (most of my 2.5 mile commute has a 20mph speed limit) and many pedestrian crossings I can bike to the shop faster than I could in car when you factor in the time saved parking. While the trip home takes a little longer because it’s uphill, I find a bike ride home the perfect way to unwind from a day of long lines at the shop. As far as cons go, some might call our hills a con but I love hills! So about the only con that comes to mind is the occasional ride in the rain.

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

One of the reasons I took up trail running was to be in nature which does not require “esthetic improvements.” Indeed, the more natural the better. As far as commuting to/from the shop on a bike goes it’s just that, a commute, and I don’t really put much thought into it.

What advice would you give someone who would like to give walking/rolling/transit as transportation in and to Manitou but does not have much time?

Like anything new just don’t make the mistake of doing too much all at once. Start out with the goal of once a week. Then twice a week. By then you will get the kinks worked out, find the best route, etc. and chances are you will find your stress levels going down and your quality time going up. If your route is really hilly or you are living outside of Manitou, an e-bike could be your golden ticket. They make you feel like superman! You can try one out right at Manitou’s very own e-bike shop.

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

With all the paid parking and congestion, I think the incentives are already there. You just have to wake up one day and decide to try something different.

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

I started out almost exclusively on my scooter because it gets about 120mpg and is free and easy to park. Over the last 3 years I have switched to just biking. Basically, I needed to get some pedal/seat time for a 767 mile bike trip to Phoenix, AZ in 2021, and a 464 mile bike trip to Mount Rushmore, SD in 2022. I still use my scooter on the days I need to stop by the Safeway to get shop supplies. Most recently, while my daughter was away on vacation, I tried out her e-bike. I find that I still pedal at the same effort, but I just go a lot faster. I even used it instead of my scooter for the Safeway trips. E-bikes are amazing! Although I do lots of literal “errand runs,” in the 12 years of owning the shop I could probably count on one hand the number of times I have run to/from it as a commute. Likewise, it would probably only take two hands to count the number of times I have taken a car. But even then, I was just dropped off/picked up so no parking was involved. I have never tried a bus.