LoCo-Motion Newsletter
LoCo-Motion Newsletter
LOCO – MOTION
LoCo-Motion is a semi-regular transportation newsletter that provides rules of the road, traffic safety tips, cone zone information and maybe even some colorful quotes!
August 2022
Bikes, Buses: spend less on your transportation costs this summer!
Are you sick of trying to find, and pay for, parking in Boulder, Denver, the mountains, and the high cost of gas to get there and back?
As Colorado continues to experience exceedingly high fuel prices, there is some relief! Explore Colorado in a new way!
RTD announced that services in August are free. You can get to DIA (from Longmont via Boulder) at no cost! Or head to Denver for a staycation for a few days at no cost! No parking headaches or paying high gas prices! It may take a bit of creativity and flexibility, but it’s doable.
The FLEX bus to/from Fort Collins also offers excellent bus connections. More on this in an upcoming City of Longmont Loco-Motion e-notification.
And if that’s not enough to get you to leave your vehicle behind with the elevated gas prices, Bustang, CDOT’s mountain bus service, has reduced all fares by 50% through Labor Day.
Imagine escaping the summer heat with a trip to the mountains for $6-$18.00 per person (depending on how far you want to travel). Most buses have free WiFi and bathrooms on board while also providing comfy cushioned seats to allow you to take in the gorgeous views or have a “wee snooze.”
For extra flexibility, all RTD, Bustang, and FLEX buses offer bike racks in front of the bus (drivers can assist if you’re a first timer). When front racks fill up, there is usually space underneath for other bikes.
So, one can get from Longmont to Glenwood Springs, Crested Butte, Buena Vista, Vail, etc., for less than $15.00 and still have the convenience of our bikes upon arrival.
How much was that tank of gas? Book me a ticket.
Happy Summer, and many thanks to RTD, Bustang, and FLEX!
Safety Tip(s) – August 2022
Do you believe someone is driving unsafely? Please get in touch with the local law enforcement agency for the roadway you are traveling. If you are traveling on a state highway, please use your cellphone to call *CSP (*277), connecting you to the Colorado State Patrol. Please be prepared to provide your exact location and the behavior that makes you believe the driver is unsafe. The 9-1-1 emergency communications center will also ask if you have a license plate, a vehicle description, or a direction of travel. And in Longmont, to report any hazards – road, sidewalk, trail, streetlight outage, etc. to the City’s Service Works webpage.
Zero Fare for Better Air
The month of August is typically Colorado’s high ozone season.
In anticipation, the state passed new legislation to allow state transit agencies, including RTD, to start a “Zero Fare for Better Air” program. This enables riders to use all RTD services for free throughout the entire RTD district during August. Complimentary services include all local, regional, express, light rail, and SkyRide services.
One of the most common bus trips local riders make is on the express or regional buses in and out of Longmont. Regional buses include the BOLT between Longmont and Boulder and the LD bus services between Longmont and Denver. These routes are free in August. All FlexRide (Call-n-Ride) services are also no-charge routes throughout the district.
While everyone has access to fare-free transit on all RTD local and Access-a-Ride buses year-round within Longmont, the regional and express buses in and out of Longmont usually require fares or passes.
If you’ve never taken transit, August is the perfect time to try it. Plan your August transit excursion today. For more information on all of RTD’s services, please visit www.rtd-denver.com.
Featuring the FLEX and the BOLT Bus
The FLEX bus – not to be confused with RTD’s FlexRide (formerly Call-n-Ride) – is a regional bus service operating between Fort Collins and Boulder, with stops in Loveland, Berthoud, and Longmont.
The FLEX bus is a service of Transfort, the transit agency that provides transit services within the City of Fort Collins. For the time being, all Flex bus service fares are suspended. Once the fare-free option lifts for the FLEX bus, an RTD Eco Pass may be honored. For the latest information about FLEX bus schedules and fares, see http://www.ridetransfort.com/flex. If you want to try the FLEX bus, hop on and go.
For trips to Boulder originating out of Longmont, you must use RTD’s BOLT service, which you would catch at 8th and Coffman.
For more information about RTD’s BOLT service, including fares and schedules, see https://www.rtd-denver.com/app/route/BOLT/schedule
August is the Perfect Time to Give the BOLT a Try.
RTD is rolling out its Zero Fare for Better Air program, during August, in which all RTD services, including bus and rail, will be fare-free. For more information on this campaign, please visit https://www.rtd-denver.com/zerofare?utm_source=Commuting+Solutions+E-Newsletter&utm_campaign=1b1ff6f5f3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_07_12_05_03_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7d815bc9a1-1b1ff6f5f3-59471113
All RTD Buses are Equipped with Bicycle Racks
For those interested in seeking to access transit by bicycle, all RTD buses are equipped with bicycle racks, or you can lock your bike in a secure bike-n-ride shelter located at the 8th and Coffman Street Station before you jump on a bus. For more information on how to load one’s bike on a bus bicycle rack or for information about the bike-n-ride shelters, please visit: https://bouldercounty.gov/transportation/multimodal/
Rides, Events, Opportunities
Bread Rollers
The Bread Rollers continue to roll out every Wednesday at 8:15 am from the Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Ave. The average ride is 18-25 miles at a 12-14 mph pace for 90-120 minutes. This ride combines bike lanes and low-stress roads. Every once in a while, we ride a short stretch on hard-packed gravel and often a few high-stress intersections. Come prepared with a tuned bike, water, helmet, snack, spare tube, and $ in the event of a coffee or ice cream stop! To register, visit: https://www.meetup.com/longmont-on-bikes/. For any questions, contact lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov
Bread Rollers on the St Vrain Greenway (pictured in red shirts) and Cinnamon Rollers pictured post-ride.
Cinnamon Rollers
We roll out at 8:15 am on Thursday mornings from the Senior Center after a safety check and intros. This ride is a little slower, a little shorter, and is always more welcoming to the beginner rider on the road, mountain, e or hybrid bicycles! We primarily ride in bike lanes and multi-use paths and do our best to avoid any high-stress intersections (occasionally, it’s unavoidable). Come prepared with a tuned bike, water, helmet, snack, spare tube, and $ in the event of a coffee or ice cream stop! To register, visit: https://www.meetup.com/longmont-on-bikes/. For any questions, contact lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov
Bicycle Issues Committee (BIC)
The Bicycle Issues Committee is a voluntary group of Longmont residents interested in improving the bicycling environment in Longmont. Meetings are generally held on the fourth Monday of every month. There are some exceptions. The next meeting is on August 22. Meetings are held on a virtual platform, and your e-mail is required to provide the meeting link. If you want to participate, contact City of Longmont Transportation Planner Ben Ortiz at ben.ortiz@longmontcolorado.
August 25–Bike, Cars, Beers! Let’s Talk About it
This evening event will bring some of the local “NextDoor” chat into a real conversation.
Where do bikes/cyclists “belong,” and why do they seem “in the way” when you’re in your car trying to pass them? What are your rights? What can you do?
Whether on two wheels or four, you will glean information about what we can do to keep ourselves, our kids, and our neighbors safe in Longmont and beyond. The panel includes:
· Christina Hagen, Partner, Hagen Nares, PLLC
· Paul Andersen, Owner, Long Mont Velo
· Lauren Greenfield, Traffic Safety Coordinator, City of Longmont
This event is on Thursday, August 25, at the Lefthand Brewery Tasting room, 1265 Boston Avenue. The event is free to the public.
Please contact Lauren Greenfield at lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov or 303.774.4547 for more information
August 31 – Bicycle Rodeo
Bicycle Rodeos allow children to learn and develop bicycle handling skills in a safe and controlled environment to be practiced and implemented on the road when appropriate.
The Kensington Park neighborhood will host a rodeo for neighbors on August 31 from 4-7 pm.
We are looking for volunteers to assist with activities, helmet fits, and registration. No bicycle experience is necessary. Interested? Please contact Lauren Greenfield at lauren.greenfield@longmontcolorado.gov or 303.774.4547.
If there are vacancies in the days before the event, sign-ups will open beyond the immediate neighborhood residents.
The bicycling newsletter has transitioned from a monthly newsletter to an on-demand eNotification system for cycling-related items, including projects and planning efforts, notices of events and classes offered by the City, and tips and resources for riding around town. Click here to sign up for eNotifications and select the LoCoMotion category. You can also access past newsletter issues on the archive website.