Greetings! This month, we’d like to introduce you to Jared Thompson who is the #artist behind Manitou Creative, loves to #run, and #walks as #transportation. You may find his pop-up art tent and display at the corner of Navajo and Manitou Ave in the heart of DT #manitousprings on select weekends through the busier and warmer months. Stop by and say hi sometime! Read entire story on FB PaCMan: Ped and Cycle, Manitou Springs.
How long have you been living in Manitou Springs and why did you choose to live here?
I have lived in Manitou Springs for 11 years. Our family chose to live here because of the small community, the easy access to hiking trails and nature, and living in the mountains.
What are the pros/cons of walking to work and to get around in Manitou?
We walk a lot as a family to do things in Manitou Springs, I think it is wonderful how most things to do and places to go in Manitou are an easy walk from our house. It’s been an amazing experience walking our son Asher to and from school every day, it’s a healthy routine that gives us some special time together. I think the biggest con about walking in Manitou is the presence of ice or gravel on the ground depending on the time of year. We have taken a few falls in the last 11 years walking around the steep streets of Manitou. Another con is people do not do a very good job of trimming their bushes and trees and many sidewalks are not passable due to branches sticking right out into the sidewalk (I’ve noticed this all over town). We find ourselves walking in the street quite a bit around town because of this.
If you walk as transportation, run, or use public transit in Manitou, please tell us how it has changed your life?
I started running about 8 years ago and it has changed my life and my health. I was 40 pounds heavier about 9 years ago. Being out on the trails hiking and running became a routine part of my life shortly after moving here (which I had never really done before) and has grown into a healthy regular part of my life. My family uses the MMT #3 bus at times to visit downtown Colorado Springs and OCC. It has been great to use the bus and not worry about driving and parking. It is a blessing that Manitou–as a small town–has a bus that goes right into downtown Colorado Springs.
What infrastructure and/or esthetic improvement would have the most positive impact on your cycling/walking/rolling/transit experiences in Manitou?
Along Manitou Ave there is no bike lane. The section between Memorial Park and the Chamber of Commerce was just repaved and for whatever reason they decided to keep those curb islands along the sidewalk that force cyclists out into the lane of traffic (unless you just decide to ride on the sidewalk). When the repaving project started I was sure they would get rid of those curb islands and create a bike lane there, but that is not the case. I don’t understand the reason for those things.
What advice would you give someone who would like to give active transportation in Manitou a try?
I always advise people to try the #3 bus and I certainly advise anyone to spend time on our trails and explore the great outdoors right here in town, we have so many great trails: Intemann trail, Barr Trail, Williams Canyon, Ute Pass, Rattlesnake Gulch, and more.
What do you think would increase more bicycling/walking/rolling/public transit use in Manitou?
I think improvement over time to sidewalks and creating sidewalks where they don’t exist now would be great.