Pueblo bicyclists ditch four wheels for two during annual Bike to Work Day
Michell Smith, an employee of the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo, has been biking to and from work for about a year and a half.
Smith was among 17 bicycle enthusiasts who got up early Wednesday morning to celebrate "Bike to Work Day" in Pueblo.
The Pueblo event was just one of its kind held throughout the state for Colorado's annual Bike to Work Day — a free event that encourages employees to leave their cars at home and ride their bicycles to work. Tens of thousands of commuters participate each year, according to the state, which helps improve air quality, reduce gas emissions and reduce traffic congestion.
Participating bicyclists in Pueblo left the Big Book Plaza at the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library around 6:30 a.m. to ride north along Union Avenue before stopping at several refreshment stations in Downtown Pueblo and the Mesa Junction.
"My goal is to bike everywhere within a 5-mile radius," Smith said. "I'm about 80% to 90% good on that. There's definitely lazy days where I don't feel like biking my dirty laundry out to the laundromat, but for the most part ... if it's within 5 miles, I bike."
Smith moved to Pueblo from Denver in 2022. While Denver may be a larger city with more bicycle infrastructure, she said its weather restricted her bike riding to three months out of the year. However, she has found Pueblo to be suitable for cycling year-round. She sees commuting via bike as an effective way to save on gas money, practice mindfulness and fit exercise into a busy work schedule.
James Wyatt, another participant in Bike to Work Day's morning ride, lived in Fort Collins before moving to Pueblo three years ago. Fort Collins is home to over 200 miles of bike lanes and has earned a platinum rating from the League of American Bicyclists. However, it is easier to meet new friends enthusiastic about cycling in Pueblo's close-knit community, Wyatt said.
Wyatt has met fellow bicyclists through various fundraisers and events like Cruisin' Pueblo's Thursday night rides outside Walter's Brewery & Taproom. Like Smith, he sees value in Pueblo's year-round warm weather and believes it gives Pueblo "every excuse" to spend time and money on improving bicycle infrastructure.
Pueblo Area Council of Governments manager Eva Cosyleon also sees the benefits of making Pueblo more bike accessible. An avid cyclist herself, she joined Thursday morning's ride and has been working with the local governments in allocating funds for upcoming bike infrastructure, including a connection from Pueblo West to the city, a trail near Lake Minnequa, and a trail connecting West 18th Street near Wildhorse Creek to West 24th Street.
The Bike to Work Day morning ride in Pueblo included refreshment stations hosted by Pueblo Active Community Environments (PACE), the Rawlings Library, Pueblo Fuel & Iron Food Hall, Pueblo Police Department, City of Pueblo Public Works, Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment and the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce.
Businesses like Solar Roast Coffee, Diavolo Pueblo Hot Chicken, Walter's Brewery & Taproom, Bingo Burger and the Pueblo Bulls Hockey Store offered discounts and specials for additional bicyclists throughout the afternoon and evening. More information about bicycling and bicycle infrastructure in Pueblo can be found on the PACE website, activepueblo.net.
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo bicyclists celebrate annual Bike to Work Day
