Inside the Movement to Make Colorado Springs a True Bike City

Is Colorado Springs a bike town or a car town? Carly sits down with three people who are quietly reshaping how the Springs gets around: Tara McCarthy, Executive Director of PikeRide; Torie Giffin, owner of the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort; and Kerry Childress, a city transportation planner who turns out to be one of the unsung heroes building the bike network behind the scenes.From midnight rides through Garden of the Gods to the e-bike boom changing who can ride, this conversation covers what it really takes to move a sprawling, car-centric city toward two wheels, and why it matters whether or not you ever clip in.In this episode:The single rides that made each guest fall in love with cycling in the Pikes Peak regionWhether the Springs' "outdoor town" reputation actually holds upWhy your tax dollars on a bike lane matter even if you never use onePlanning a bike network for a city built on hills and sprawl, not a flat grid like BoulderThe bike tourism money the Springs may be leaving on the table (think Fruita and Bentonville)Transportation equity and what it means to be "time privileged" with a set of car keysPike Ride's expansion into Southeast Colorado Springs and the $35-a-month e-bike program changing livesThe truth about what's actually being sold as an "e-bike"How to make cycling culture welcoming to anyone, no spandex or Strava requiredEverything you need to know about Bike to Work Day on June 24th (yes, there's bacon)Mentioned in this episode: Pedal the Springs podcast • Colorado Springs Cycling Club • Trails and Open Space Coalition • Kids on Bikes • Visit Colorado Springs • PikeRide Episode of Springs and ThingsWe Love Our SponsorsPikes Peak Library District Summer Adventure Program — All you have to do is spend 30 days reading, creating, and exploring to win prizes.Vanguard Aesthetics — Skincare treatments with real, noticeable results.Core Collective — Our favorite spot for pilates! Use code SPRINGSANDTHINGS for 3 classes for $30. Grab your bike, take a ride, then come back and join us, because by the end, that "e-bike smile" might just make an addict out of you, too.