Helene Gallaway – Active transportation Q&A

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!