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Locals increase pedal power
Boulder Community Hospital, Roche debut "BikePool"
By Ellen Grady, The Daily Camera
November 10, 2004
Boulder East wants to get you out of your car and onto a bike, bus or other alternative mode of transportation.
The organization has launched a "BikePool" program at several area businesses in its ongoing effort to reduce traffic and pollution in the city. Boulder Community Hospital and Roche Colorado Corp., kicked off their programs Tuesday, while the Nature Conservancy and Cisco Systems have been using their bikes for over a week.
Kathy Garcia, the employee transportation coordinator at the Nature Conservancy and a Boulder East board member, said response from her staff has been overwhelmingly positive.
"We've had our bikes taken out almost every day," Garcia said. "People have been really excited and love having them."
The organization gives special privileges to employees who buy an annual RTD bus pass.
"We made it a sort of reward for those who bought the EcoPass," Garcia said. "Anyone can sign up to take the bikes, but those people have first priority."
To supply and maintain the bikes, Boulder East partnered with the locally owned Sports Garage, a custom bike fit studio located at 27th and Spruce streets. The store provided five new Breezer-brand Villagers, a commuter-style bike that retails for around $700, at cost to the program, as well as helmets and accessories. The Nature Conservancy is using two previously owned bikes, which Sports Garage helped to refurbish.
"It's important for businesses to participate in community outreach programs like this one," said Tim Troha, Sports Garage's purchasing manager. "This isn't really a revenue stream, but more of an advocacy and service to the community."
Troha thinks that with the proper funding, the BikePool program will only improve a city that is already cyclist-friendly.
"Boulder is one of the best places in America to ride a bike. We hope this will be the tipping point for a change in the way people think about transportation within the city of Boulder."
