No Winter ‘Brake’ For Boulder B-cycle! 

Boulder B-cycle is staying open all winter - Ride On!   

Last winter, we left two stations near UCAR open to test how well the stations functioned in winter weather conditions. Our system passed the test with flying colors!

“Last winter worked really well for us having two B-stations operating for our two campus locations; our employees used the red bikes all winter long without a glitch. And now that all B-stations will be open throughout the area, we have an alternative transportation system for wherever we want to go in the City; we’re thrilled!” said UCAR’s Sustainability Outreach Coordinator, Kay Gazaway.

Thus, with a lot of encouragement from our riders, sponsors, and city and county staff, we have decided to stay open all winter. Now, you can use Boulder B-cycle for the last mile of your commute, short-trips around town, errands, and fun with Boulder visitors all year long!

Boulder East is now Boulder Transportation Connections!

Boulder East is now offering services throughout the City of Boulder, under a new name: Boulder Transportation Connections (BTC)! Through busing, biking, carpooling and telecommuting, BTC is dedicated to helping Boulder employees and residents try alternative methods of transportation besides driving alone as a way to help reduce traffic congestion and resulting pollution. BTC works closely with GO Boulder, RTD and other local transportation organizations to provide programs to employees that reduce travel impacts.

Email Amy to sign-up for our fall survey program. This is a great FREE opportunity to find out how employees are commuting and how to encourage commuting in a variety of modes. BTC is here to help your business develop travel-wise strategies that reduce costs, improve employee moral, and create significant environmental benefits. We’ll provide you with the results for the survey and suggest programs for your employees.This is a free, grant-funded service, so sign-up now! Visit us at www.bouldertc.org for more info on BTC.

Meet GO Boulder’s New Manager - Kathleen Bracke 

Kathleen Bracke’s enthusiasm is palpable. On the job for a little more than a month, GO Boulder’s new manager is eager to provide the leadership necessary to maintain the momentum for our city’s innovative and balanced transportation programs.

“This community is phenomenal. The work that the city does to preserve Boulder’s quality of life and find ways to shift trips from single-occupancy cars is exceptional. Continuing this work and moving it forward is really important to me,” she said.

Kathleen comes to GO Boulder after working almost 18 years for the City of Fort Collins. As the manager of Fort Collins’ Transportation Planning department, she led numerous projects, including the early phases of the $87 million Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit project. Kathleen also managed the successful FC Bikes and Safe Routes to School programs, helped plan and develop Fort Collins’ bicycle/pedestrian Mason Trail, and implemented travel improvements to the city’s Downtown River District and North College Corridor.

First Priority: The Transportation Master Plan Update 

One of Kathleen’s first priorities will be providing the leadership for the 2012-2013 update to the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The TMP is the city’s long-range blueprint for travel and mobility, which aims to create a complete and sustainable transportation system. The last TMP update occurred in 2008. The focus areas for the current update include transportation funding; addressing short-term transportation needs for the opening of Boulder Junction; implementing “complete streets” projects to make city roads safe and convenient for all modes of travel; and creating strategic, long-term transit plans for local and regional travel. 

“There are a lot of programs and projects going on to help GO Boulder offer the transportation choices needed to fulfill the TMP’s goal. They’re all interrelated and work together with other city sustainability initiatives to create that synergy for the community,” Kathleen said.

Connecting With Boulder Businesses

Kathleen believes that working on the TMP update will also provide her with a great opportunity to engage with local businesses.

 “My goal is to work with the business community so that it has a voice in our planning as we go forward,” she said. “I want to understand businesses’ needs and wishes for sustainable travel and how we at GO Boulder can help them achieve those goals.” 

Working Shoulder-to-Shoulder 

In addition to the TMP update, another one of Kathleen’s priorities is to contribute to a collegial atmosphere and work shoulder-to-shoulder with employees across all city departments. 

“We’ll be working very deliberately to reach out across departments such as integrating transportation with land use and climate commitments,” Kathleen said. “The city has a great team of employees with a real depth of understanding of the community and our regional partners. I think that through interdepartmental collaboration, we’re going to continue to accomplish great things for our transportation system and the Boulder community.”

Upsides to Her Fort Collins-to-Boulder Commute

Kathleen lives in Fort Collins and commutes to Boulder, which she claims has a considerable upside.

“I commute by vanpool three or more days of the week, so I understand what it’s like from a commuter perspective. I’ve gained first-hand experience that will help me create a better voice and vision for those traveling regionally,” she said.

Kathleen admits that she loves working in Boulder but misses the daily bike commute of her former job. So on days when she doesn’t commute by vanpool, Kathleen “parks and bikes.” 

“I drive to the edge of Boulder, park my car, and then ride my bike the rest of the way to work. This way I still get my bike fix,” Kathleen explained. “That’s been a really fun thing to do. It helps me get some exercise and explore the community. I get a chance to cycle around Boulder!”

Give Her a Call

Kathleen said she’s looking forward to meeting as many community members as possible and learning about their ideas. With a friendly, calming temperament, she’s very easy to approach. Contact Kathleen at 303-441-4155 or email her at BrackeK@bouldercolorado.gov.

Boulder Green Streets
Enjoy three miles of car-free streets linking two activity zones during the third annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia on Sunday, Sept. 16. Free entry to the North Boulder Recreation Center, live music, food, and Let’s Move! activities for all ages!

Boulder Green Streets

One month until Boulder Green Streets!

Enjoy three miles of car-free streets linking two activity zones during the third annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia on Sunday, Sept. 16. Free entry to the North Boulder Recreation Center, live music, food, and Let’s Move! activities for all ages!

Boulder Green Streets

Infographic - The Case for Public Transportation

via http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/