City employees pushing their pedals
Staff to compete in alternative transportation competition
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Steamboat Springs — A rivalry could be brewing on 10th Street.
The city of Steamboat Springs kicks off its third annual alternative transportation competition today. Each city department will compete for the highest number of employees who choose alternative transportation to commute to work or run errands during the day.
Lauren Mooney, assistant to the city manager, said she is looking forward to the competition.
"I think Centennial Hall thinks they can beat City Hall," she said.
But then she paused for a moment.
"Well, they might be able to," she admitted. "There's a lot of healthy people over there."
Last year, Tran-Spur-Tation, as the alternative transportation program is called, helped to "reduce traffic and pollution" created by city employees, City Planner Gavin McMillan said. On average, 11.5 percent of city employees on any given day rode bikes, walked, took the bus or carpooled to work during the 2007 contest.
There are 383 city employees in seven departments competing for the win. The prize is a citywide bagel hour.
Upcoming events such as Triple Crown will bring thousands of people to Steamboat Springs this summer, resulting in increased traffic, limited parking and added pollution.
The city's contest will attempt to ease those burdens through the use of alternative transportation - a trend that is growing in Steamboat.
Jonathan Flint, operations manager for Steamboat Springs Transit, said city buses have carried nearly 93,000 passengers since Memorial Day.
"That's a 23 percent increase compared to last year at this time," he said. "Around 1,500 people ride the bus every day, and we're expecting to see about 2,500 (per day) later this summer."
Last year, about 1.1 million passengers rode the bus. "If you think of it this way, each car normally has two people, so our buses kept about 500,000 cars off the road in Steamboat last year," Flint said.
Steamboat enjoys healthy air quality, said Mike Zopf, director of Routt County Department of Environmental Health.
"We haven't had a major problem since the early '90s," Zopf said.
In the summer, dry conditions can cause matter to blow in from far away and open burning can affect air quality, explained Zopf.
"But in general, we are well within the air-quality standard," he said.
The Tran-Spur-Tation competition ends in early September.
- To reach Kristi Mohrbacher, call 870-1376
or e-mail kmohrbacher@steamboatpilot.com
Comments
bloggyblog 4 years, 11 months ago
every little bit helps. blog says kudos to the city for trying to make a difference!
justathought 4 years, 11 months ago
I guess it helps the people that believe global warming, oops, I mean climate change is all man made and going to be the death of us unless we pay carbon taxes, but I have to giggle a little because it seems a little hypocritical to me. I mean I see it this way, there are 383 city employees trying to make a difference so the city can "bring thousands of people to Steamboat Springs this summer, resulting in increased traffic, limited parking and added pollution." Like I said, sounds hypocritical to me.
colowoodsman 4 years, 11 months ago
duh handyman-you get plates at the County not the City.
bloggyblog 4 years, 11 months ago
justa, you sound kinda bitter to blog. we all have bad days, but when was the last time you had anything productive to say? even if global warming wasn't a factor or if we weren't facing record oil prices, taking a few vehicles off the road sounds like a good idea to blog.
colowoodsman 4 years, 11 months ago
bb-justa is absolutely correct- the whole concept of a destination resort, (a place where people come to escape the problems they created where they usually live) is an energy toilet! Pointing out this 'hypocrisy' is constuctive in itself. It's like a newspaper or magazine that writes stories about logging and deforestation without realizing that newsprint (50% or more is used for advertizing) comes from trees.
outsiderlookingin 4 years, 11 months ago
I think the 383 city employees should just take the day off and stay home, the hot air alone that is saved will cool the planet by 10 degree's.. They don't accomplish much when they show up anyway.
handyman 4 years, 11 months ago
Hey outsider - I bet you wouldn't feel that way if that one day off was the day you came in to renew your vehicle plates.
justathought 4 years, 11 months ago
Some idiot that thinks he/she's cute talking in the third person but believes his/her opinion is the only "productive" way of thinking is scary. This is the type of person that believes everyone must conform to his beliefs in order to save us from ourselves and wants the government to force us into compliance. If he wants vehicles off the road, then let him walk and leave me and my choices alone. As long as the rest of the world is burning fuel and building more refineries I doubt that making everyone in the US walk (except millionaires and politicians) would change "Gore's man made global warming" let alone 383 employees in steamboat.
colowoodsman 4 years, 11 months ago
Don't forget- the more time we spend walking to and from work the less time we have to read the newspapers!
Fred Duckels 4 years, 11 months ago
Mr. Johnathon Flint,
I am all for public transportation and for any transportation that make common sense.
In order to evaluate the transit system all facts should be forthcoming.
What is the cost per passenger mile including any government assistance?
How much fuel is consumed per passenger mile?
When stating how many cars are being removed from the roads one would need the percentage of riders that do not have drivers licenses. Riders without authority to drive will probable carpool if the bus is not available.
Some of the riders must be lying down as the buses seem empty to me.
These are the facts that need to be available to evaluate the bus.
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