News Press > News
Castle Rock’s Bike to Work Day turns six
 |
| Ann Skinner of the Town of Castle Rock hands a promotional t-shirt for the Share the Road campaign to a visitor of the town's Bike to Work Day fun June 24 at Festival Park in Castle Rock. Photo by Benn Farrell |
By Benn Farrell
It’s tough to imagine a Bike to Work Day can be award-winning, but that exactly what it’s been for the Town of Castle Rock.
A handful of different departments of the Town of Castle Rock collaborated to hold its annual Bike to Work Day celebration. It is the sixth year Castle Rock has recognized bicycle commuting in its area on the third Wednesday of June. Bike to Work Day was observed state wide June 24, and the Town of Castle Rock’s celebration began at the Douglas County Fairgrounds and had visitors ride to Festival Park for food and vendors.
Kristen Zagurski of the community relations department said the town in past years has received a prize for attendance at its Bike to Work festivities; although, just getting the word out about the town having a Bike to Work Day has been the biggest challenge.
“It’s a very popular sport, but we know it’s tough to come out since people have to get to work [in the morning],” Libby Mueller of the public works department said.
Another problem for getting more people to participate in the town’s Bike to Work Day celebration is a lack of trails that connect from the outer subdivisions to downtown Castle Rock.
“There’s a disconnect between Castle Pines and Castle Rock,” Mueller said. “You have to either take [Highway] 85 or I-25.”
Despite the bumps, organizers said the event’s attendance has grown every year and has gone nothing but up. They credit part of its success to the sponsorship involved.
“The town spent less than $20 on this year’s event,” Zagurski said. “The rest of it has come from our sponsors.
“People really stepped up and supported this, despite being a tough time financially.”
Possibly the one rider at the celebration to book the most amount of miles to come to work was Jeff Smullen, who works for Town of Castle Rock’s parks and recreation department. Smullen joined the gathering after a 27-mile ride from his home near the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
“Once I got over the Palmer Divide, it was easy,” Smullen said.
Smullen’s trek to work took him through Douglas County’s Greenland Open Space, Spruce Mountain Road and about 1.5 miles on I-25, which is permitted by the Colorado Department of Transportation. He has been riding for about a year, but he doesn’t participate in a lot of cycling festivals. His riding is usually by himself or with friends on a recreational level.
Lately, Smullen has been biking to work about once a week. He said events like Bike to Work Day is important because it gives motorists a chance to see cyclists and be more aware of them.
“For me, it’s good to see a lot of people coming out and having a presence,” Smullen said. “It’s important for people to get used to seeing bikers. The more [motorists] can be used to that, the better.”
In an effort to do its part to promote cycling safety laws and road safety procedures, organizers handed out free t-shirts promoting the Share the Road campaign. Ann Skinner, also a town employee who volunteered to help the event, said Castle Rock received a grant from CDOT to promote the road safety awareness campaign. She said events like Bike to Work Day and National Trails Day are ways to target a core demographic about the campaign.
A handful of different departments of the Town of Castle Rock collaborated to hold its annual Bike to Work Day celebration. It is the sixth year Castle Rock has recognized bicycle commuting in its area on the third Wednesday of June. Bike to Work Day was observed state wide June 24, and the Town of Castle Rock’s celebration began at the Douglas County Fairgrounds and had visitors ride to Festival Park for food and vendors.
Kristen Zagurski of the community relations department said the town in past years has received a prize for attendance at its Bike to Work festivities; although, just getting the word out about the town having a Bike to Work Day has been the biggest challenge.
“It’s a very popular sport, but we know it’s tough to come out since people have to get to work [in the morning],” Libby Mueller of the public works department said.
Another problem for getting more people to participate in the town’s Bike to Work Day celebration is a lack of trails that connect from the outer subdivisions to downtown Castle Rock.
“There’s a disconnect between Castle Pines and Castle Rock,” Mueller said. “You have to either take [Highway] 85 or I-25.”
Despite the bumps, organizers said the event’s attendance has grown every year and has gone nothing but up. They credit part of its success to the sponsorship involved.
“The town spent less than $20 on this year’s event,” Zagurski said. “The rest of it has come from our sponsors.
“People really stepped up and supported this, despite being a tough time financially.”
Possibly the one rider at the celebration to book the most amount of miles to come to work was Jeff Smullen, who works for Town of Castle Rock’s parks and recreation department. Smullen joined the gathering after a 27-mile ride from his home near the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
“Once I got over the Palmer Divide, it was easy,” Smullen said.
Smullen’s trek to work took him through Douglas County’s Greenland Open Space, Spruce Mountain Road and about 1.5 miles on I-25, which is permitted by the Colorado Department of Transportation. He has been riding for about a year, but he doesn’t participate in a lot of cycling festivals. His riding is usually by himself or with friends on a recreational level.
Lately, Smullen has been biking to work about once a week. He said events like Bike to Work Day is important because it gives motorists a chance to see cyclists and be more aware of them.
“For me, it’s good to see a lot of people coming out and having a presence,” Smullen said. “It’s important for people to get used to seeing bikers. The more [motorists] can be used to that, the better.”
In an effort to do its part to promote cycling safety laws and road safety procedures, organizers handed out free t-shirts promoting the Share the Road campaign. Ann Skinner, also a town employee who volunteered to help the event, said Castle Rock received a grant from CDOT to promote the road safety awareness campaign. She said events like Bike to Work Day and National Trails Day are ways to target a core demographic about the campaign.
Copyright © 2009 - Colorado Community Newspapers Online