September 16, 2022 | ACTIVE LIFE | By Dylan Carey
If you find it difficult to get around Colorado Springs because you don’t have a car, I recommend you continue reading this article. There are a couple of affordable, simple modes of transportation available to students at Colorado College. Additionally, these transportation options allow students to access most areas in Colorado Springs (especially areas surrounding the campus).
The first mode of transportation that all students should be aware of is PikeRide. PikeRide is a Colorado Springs bike share program that has over 350 electric-assist bikes in Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs.
In 2019, PikeRide transitioned from pedal bikes to electric-assist bikes to expand their reach and promote accessibility for all. Most importantly, CC has a partnership with PikeRide that grants all CC students a membership, which allows students 90 free minutes of PikeRide every day. To activate the membership, students need to sign up for a PikeRide account with their CC email.
The electric-assist bikes also allow students to travel relatively far in 90 minutes without significant physical exertion. Personally, I love PikeRide bikes because they have plenty of range (battery life), the electric assist is quite zippy and there are plenty of convenient locations to pick them up on campus. Currently, CC has PikeRide pick up locations at Tutt Library, Worner, Armstrong, the Fine Arts Center, and the bookstore.
Another transportation service that CC students can utilize is Safe Ride. Safe Ride is a free student-run transportation service that provides rides to and from campus within a 1.5-mile radius.
The standard Safe Ride program is targeted toward students who need a ride because they have been drinking. This service is offered Wednesday from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. The grocery store shuttle operates every day of the week besides Wednesday, and the hours for each day can be found on the CC website.
The grocery shuttle services King Soopers, ARC Thrift Store, the Walgreens on Uintah, Neighborhood Market, the Bon Shopping Center Safeway and Asian Pacific Market (only Saturday afternoons). Finally, Campus Safety is available to transport students during all other times, but these rides are typically reserved for students with medical and safety related needs.
Lastly, students should be aware of a new free downtown shuttle service that was announced in May of this year. The city of Colorado Springs hopes that the new shuttle will “make visiting downtown even more convenient.”
Currently, the shuttle has thirteen stops in between the Cache La Poudre and Rio Grande streets, but the city promises to add more stops in phase two of the project. Notable stops include CC (by Ed Robson Arena), Weidner Field, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. All buses are wheelchair accessible and feature bike racks. The busses run every day of the week and specific hours can be found on the Colorado Springs government website.
Accessing Colorado Springs is an important part of our college experience at CC. Thankfully, the city and our school provide multiple options for convenient, affordable transportation. I hope students are less intimidated by the prospect of getting across town after reading this article.