The Eco-Commute

Looking for an environmentally conscious way to get around town? We Denverites are lucky in that we have a wealth of choices when it comes to alternative transportation.

By Bike

Of course, the “greenest” approach to commuting is hopping on the old two-wheeler and pedaling to the office. And with metro Denver sporting 650 miles of bike paths, a refreshing morning ride is possible from almost any location in the area.

With the weather warming up, why wait until the weekend to hop on the bike? By riding to work, you are conserving gas, saving money, cutting carbon dioxide emissions, and getting a dang good workout. Yes, it may take a little longer to get there, but probably not as long as you would think. Many of the bike trails are continuous paths that breeze over, under and around traffic intersections. No stop-and-go for you.

Let’s address the other excuses you might have. You don’t have to ride every day; even once or twice a week would help. You won’t get too sweaty on those cool summer mornings. Clothes-wise, just pack your wrinkle-free trousers and dress shoes in your backpack and hop on.

Consider taking the South Platte, High Line or Cherry Creek trails from the south and east into downtown. The Bear Creek Trail coming in from the west is a good option. From the north and northwest areas, look at the Platte River North and Clear Creek trails.

But that’s just scratching the surface of Denver’s extensive trail system. Maps can be picked up at most city bike shops. Also check out www.denvertrails.com.

BY TRAIN OR BUS

No, Denver doesn’t have an extensive subway system or an “L” train snaking around town. But we do have convenient RTD bus and Light Rail service that leaves little reason not to take advantage of public transportation.

RTD boasts more than 75 Park-n-Ride locations around the city, meaning one is a short drive – or ride or walk – from where you live. From there, hop on a local, express or regional bus headed in the direction you’re going.

Additionally, Light Rail currently has six lines serving the south and southeast metro areas, with additional lines in the west and north planned in the future. Light Rail’s C and D line trains run into downtown Denver from Littleton along the South Santa Fe corridor. The E and F lines follow the southern I-25 corridor from Lincoln Avenue into downtown. The H line winds into downtown from I-225 and Parker Road, while the G line runs between Lincoln and I-225/Parker.

Yes, there is a charge, but riding the bus or train is probably cheaper than driving when you consider the cost of gas and parking. And don’t discount the break your jangled nerves will get as you sit back and relax while someone else does the driving. And don’t forget, RTD service includes shuttles to downtown sporting events
and to the airport.

Complete fare and route information is available at www.rtd-denver.com.

BY CAR

OK, so you have to drive. But there is a right way to do this. Carpooling to and from work has the net effect of taking cars off the road, meaning less congestion, less pollution and less stress for you. Ask around your neighborhood or put a notice in your HOA newsletter – there’s got to be someone nearby who is heading in the same general direction as you. Or, try to team up with a fellow commuter via Ride Arrangers online – visit www.drcog.com and click on “Ride Arrangers.”

If you carpool from the north area, you can cruise down the middle of I-25 in the High-Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) lane between 70th Avenue and downtown, taking the headache out of your morning and afternoon drives.

There’s even a “green” option if you need a taxi ride from the airport or around town on a weekend night – that’s right, hybrid cabs. Metro Taxi, Denver’s largest taxi service, is touting itself as the greenest taxi service in the country, with 20 hybrid taxis in its fleet. Taking the green effort another step, the company has installed a waste oil furnace, which burns used oil from its taxis to heat its vehicle maintenance facility. Prior to the installation of the furnace, Metro paid $2,600 monthly to heat the building and now pays nothing.

Visit www.metrotaxidenver.com for details.