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REPORT: A GUIDE TO CAR-FREE SKIING IN COLORADO

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The Growing Ways to Get from the Denver Region to the Slopes Without Your Personal Car

RELEASED BY: COPIRG FOUNDATION AND SNOWRIDERS INTERNATIONAL

RELEASE DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017

Download full report here. A SHORTENED VERSION IS AVAIALBLE BELOW

For years, the only real way for people to get from the Denver region up to the ski slopes has been to drive their personal car. While the number of people who carpool along the limited roads that lead to our slopes is high, relying on personal vehicles to move hundreds of thousands of people from the Front Range to the ski slopes during the winter is inefficient, unsafe, and has a negative impact on our health and the environment.

Colorado needs a transportation system that provides safe, convenient, affordable options that connect the Front Range to the ski slopes. In the short term, we need to ensure that the personal vehicles that are travelling to the slopes are maximizing carpool opportunities in each vehicle. In the long term, we need a lot more options so people can ditch their car for shuttles, vans, buses and trains.

The good news is that over the last few winter seasons, options for getting to the slopes without driving your personal car have increased and smart phone technologies have made ride sharing and carpooling an increasingly efficient option.

This guide highlights the available options that our researchers found for travelling from the Denver metro region to the ski slopes without your personal car. Currently, available options include airport shuttles, multiple vans and bus programs, rideshares, and two train lines. The costs and convenience varies widely among the options but we included every option that our researchers found that we thought the public could access. The research was done between January 31st and February 6th. We also include some of the policies that ski resorts are implementing to incentivize carpooling including providing preferred parking.

 

SHORTENED VERSION OF THE GUIDE TO CAR-FREE SKIING IN COLORADO

Daily Access*

 

Bustang West Line

Stops: Frisco, Vail, Glenwood Springs
Cost: $12-$28   
www.ridebustang.com/west-line

RTD ski-n-ride (Route N)

Stops: Eldora   
Cost: $4.50
http://www.rtd-denver.com/skiNRide.shtml

Greyhound Bus   

Stops: Frisco, Vail, Glenwood Springs
Cost: $14-$32
http://locations.greyhound.com/bus-stations/us/colorado/denver/bus-stati...

Amtrak California Zephyr

Stops: Fraser-Winter Park, Granby, Glenwood Springs
Cost: $35-$168
https://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train

 

Weekend access*

 

SnowStang

Stops: A-Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, and Winter Park
Cost: $45-$60 (round trip)
http://www.ridebustang.com/snowstang2017

Front Range Ski Bus

Stops: Loveland Ski Area, Copper Mountain
Cost: $45 (round trip)
http://www.frontrangeskibus.com/

Amtrak Winter Park Express

Stops: Winter Park
Costs: $59 (round trip)
https://www.amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress

University of Colorado, Boulder Ski Bus Program **

Stops: Keystone, A-Basin, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Vail -- different each weekend
Cost: $5-$15 (round trip)
http://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/transportation/bus/ski-bus-program

 

Access from Denver International Airport***

 

Colorado Mountain Express

Stops: Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Frisco, Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Edwards, Eagle, Glenwood Springs, Aspen & Snowmass Village
Cost: $49-$120 †
http://www.coloradomountainexpress.com/

Fresh Tracks Transportation

Stops: Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Frisco and Silverthorn/Dillon
Cost: $63††
http://www.freshtrackstransportation.com/

Peak 1 Express

Stops: Breckenridge and Summit County & Vail Valley
Cost: $44-$99††
http://www.mountainshuttle.com/shuttle-schedule/

Powderhound Transportation‡   

Stops: Aspen Snowmass, Beaver Creak, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Steamboat, Vail, Winter Park
Cost: $249-$299‡
http://ridethepowder.com/

Summit Express

Stops: Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Frisco, Dillon/Silverthorn
Costs: $65††
https://www.summitexpress.com/

 

Ride Share Options*

 

SkiCarpool.org

SkiCarpool is a nonprofit organization that facilitates carpooling to Colorado resorts using an active rideboard on their website
www.skicarpool.org

Carpool World

International ridesharing website with an active ride-board of people driving from Denver Metro Area to the mountains.
http://www.carpoolworld.com/carpool_.html

WaytoGo SkiPool Program   

Between December 2014 and March 2015, members of a vanpool through the Way to Go program received one free rideshare trip to the mountains per week.  Way to Go members should contact DRCOG to see if SkiPool options are still available.
http://commutingsolutions.org/commute-options/get-a-lift-with-skipool-be...

Craigslist Rideshare

General resource board where individuals can post requests and find people to carpool with.   
https://denver.craigslist.org/search/rid

 

Mountains with Carpool Incentives *

 

Arapahoe Basin

Limited priority parking for a car of three or more.  Discount tickets with a car of four or more.
http://arapahoebasin.com/ABasin/about/environment/transportation.aspx

Copper Mountain Resort

Priority parking for carpools of four or more,
http://www.coppercolorado.com/winter/the_mountain/transportation/village...

Breckenridge Ski Resort

$5 discount on parking with car of four or more.
http://blog.breckenridge.com/2015/03/30/breckenridge-parking-made-easy/

Keystone Resort

Priority parking for carpools of four or more.
http://m.keystoneresort.com/parking.html

* Information subject to change by the organizations and companies that run the service. Check website for latest information.       
** only available to students and alumni
*** Only shared shuttle options presented unless otherwise noted
† Discounts for children   
 ††Discounts for 3+ people and kids   

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SnowStang Pilot Bus Program: Good News for Colorado Skiers

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Good News For Colorado Skiers: CDOT Announces "SnowStang" Pilot Bus Program with Service to Front Range Ski Resorts

Snowriders International praises the announcement from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) last week of the pilot “SnowStang” bus program, a bus that will offer round-trip service from Denver to the Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, and Winter Park ski areas on February 11th and 25th. The bus will travel along the I-70 corridor, which is notorious among Denver-area mountain recreationists for its extreme traffic on winter weekends, and offers the appealing option to kick back and relax in a comfortable coach bus, rather than brave the traffic oneself.  Although SnowStang is only operating for two days this winter, Snowriders hopes to see it funded as a regular CDOT route in years to come. “We believe there is a great need for smarter transportation options from the Denver metro area to the mountains,” says Lucie Coleman, an organizer with Snowriders International.  “A public bus system, like the SnowStang program, is a big step in the right direction in providing the more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation solutions that skiers and snowboarders are demanding.”

As mountain recreation enthusiasts flood out of Denver and into the mountains on weekends and holidays, highway traffic usually spikes causing terrible traffic jams, adding hours onto commutes, costing mountain communities hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and having big impacts on the environment. Idling cars greatly increase air pollution, threatening public health and contributing to climate change.  What’s more, between 2001 and 2009 – the most recent data available – the average number of miles driven by 16 to 34-year-olds dropped by 23 percent.  This is the main demographic heading out of Denver each weekend to ski and board. Mountain travelers are demanding 21st century transportation options like rideshares, bus, and rail that allows them to save money, make new friends, reduce traffic, and reduce their impact on the environment. America should not just accommodate skiers’ and boarders’ desire to drive less, but actively encourage it. Cities across the nation are leading the way by expanding public transportation options, and building new public transportation infrastructure. We are happy to see the Colorado Department of Transportation is part of this trend.

As there are increasingly more of these options for Coloradans can take advantage of, Snowriders will continue to push for greater levels of public funding, to continue to make mountain access in Colorado, and throughout the country, more affordable, efficient and green.  We believe that efficient public transportation systems like rail and clean buses will make mountain transportation’s future better for everyone, not just skiers.

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Paris Climate Agreement Statement

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For Immediate Release:
Saturday, December 12, 2015

Historic agreement great news for the future of mountains, snow, and the planet


Paris, France – Today, world leaders have accepted a final agreement to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a level scientists say is critical to avoid the worst impacts of climate change such such as the end of healthy snowpack and ice cycles – a death sentence for cold, frontline communities. Snowriders International director Philip Huffeldt issued the following statement applauding the historic agreement:

“The end of a healthy snowpack, the end of ice, the end of healthy mountains is a real possibility unless we act boldly and swiftly to cut global warming pollution and transition to 100 percent clean energy. That’s why this climate deal is amazing news for mountain communities, Arctic communities, public health, and the planet.

“Snow and mountain communities understand what’s at stake better than most as much is already melting away. We’ve seen an avalanche of support from snow and mountain communities worldwide for a strong Paris agreement, while professional athletes, businesses, ski areas, governments, organizations and citizens from across the U.S. are standing behind the Clean Power Plan, the largest step our country has ever taken to act on climate.

“This landmark agreement gives me hope that we’ll be able to pass on a safer climate to our children and grandchildren, and that they’ll know what it means to enjoy the wonder and beauty of snow."

To learn more and take action, visit Snowriders International’s website www.snowridersinternational.org.



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Snowriders International is an organization of skiers, boarders, and mountain recreation enthusiasts.  We are dedicated to the promotion of winter sports and protection of the environment across the globe through service, education, research, and advocacy.

www.snowridersinternational.org

 

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Snow and Mountain Communities Demand Climate Action in Paris

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2015
Contact: Phil Huffeldt, Phil@snowridersinternational.org

Snow and Mountain Communities Demand Climate Action in Paris

Snowriders International partners with the Climate Reality Project to host the “I AM PRO SNOW” panel at the World Climate Summit

Denver, CO (12/5/15) – On December 6, the mayor of Snowriders International’s hometown of Aspen, Mayor Steve Skadron, will join a panel in Paris of elected officials, winter sports athletes, industry leaders and climate activists to discuss how climate change has begun to impact the snowsports and mountain world.

The I AM PRO SNOW panel will delve into the impacts that climate change is having on snowsports, mountain and winter based communities and industries worldwide, the future of snow and mountains if we don’t do our part to fight climate change, and the work that is currently underway to solve the crisis. By convening a diverse, powerful set of voices alongside the COP 21 international climate talks, Snowriders International and its partners are urging world leaders to form the strongest agreement possible in Paris and protect the mountain way of life for this and future generations.

Over the past year, a coalition including Snowriders International and the I AM PRO SNOW Campaign of the Climate Reality Project has gathered over 1,500 signatures, representing the voices of over 193,000 individuals worldwide, with ski areas, Olympians, elected officials, businesses, and organizations calling for strong action in Paris. In addition, 11 cities – including Whistler, BC, Ísafjarðarbær, Iceland, and many cities in Utah, Colorado and Oregon – have voted to pass a resolution in support of the letter.

Climate Reality President & CEO Ken Berlin will introduce the panel discussion, and participants will include:

  • Porter Fox, author of Deep and editor at Powder Magazine, moderator

  • Steve Skadron, Mayor of Aspen

  • Elizabeth Burakowski, Researcher at NCAR Climate and Global Dynamics Division

  • Bruno Cercley, CEO at Rossignol

  • Michael Brune, Executive Director of The Sierra Club

  • Seth Wescott, 2-time Olympic gold medal snowboarder

“Climate change is the biggest threat mountains and snowsports communities have ever faced,” said Phil Huffeldt, Director of Snowriders International. “With the I AM PRO SNOW coalition, we’re excited to help bring together such a powerful set of voices here in Paris for the sake of mountains and snow everywhere.”

To learn more and take action, visit Snowriders International’s website www.snowridersinternational.org. 

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Snowriders International is an organization of skiers, boarders, and mountain recreation enthusiasts.  We are dedicated to the promotion of winter sports and protection of the environment across the globe through service, education, research, and advocacy.

www.snowridersinternational.org

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