Biking to Anschutz Medical Campus (Denver, Aurora: home, buy, school district)

[strongbone]

Hi there,

A few days ago there was a post regarding finding a place to live near the Anschutz medical center.

We are moving to Aurora in a month from abroad. We'll live in the central-southern part of Aurora (area that belongs to the Cherry Creek School District). Unfortunately we won't be able to afford to cars at the beginning, so I thought about riding a bicycle to work (it's a ~10 miles ride, 80% on designated paths).

I would like to know from locals who have experience with riding a bike in this area about the feasibility of such an idea. I know that these days are very hot (~100), and I know winters are very cold.

1. Is it safe to take this ride at all hours, or better not to ride after sundown?
2. Is it even possible to ride during snow (is there snow-removal from bike-paths)?
3. How hard it is to ride in this heat (leaving 7:00-8:00, returning 16:00-17:00)?
4. I thought about getting a motor-bicycles or electric-bike. Any insights?
5. Alternatively, is getting a scooter is a good option (driving in snow, parking, theft)?

Many thanks

[livecontent]

Of course you could bike to the campus and all your concerns are valid some of the time. However, you can mitigate many of these concerns when the weather and time of day makes biking more difficult by looking to availability of public transit. You can take a bus when it is needed or bike when it the situation is better. You also have the added advantage of taking your bike on the bus and completing your trip at the end of your destinations.

I would not rely totally on a motor scooter because you may run into some of the same problems with weather that you would with a bike and you would not be able to take it on a bus. Also you cannot ride a motor scooter on the bike paths.

Are you student or an employee of the campus? The University and many employers will offer discount or fully paid public transit passes. It would be foolish not to take advantage of that benefit if you cannot afford a car. This website will give you that information and additional excellent information. with maps and routes, about biking to the campus http://www.ucdenver.edu/life/getting...portation.aspx and the link for the student bus pass http://www.ucdenver.edu/life/service...portation.aspx Follow this link for the pass for employees http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/depart...DProducts.aspx and also realize that there is a free circular around the campus http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/depart...irculator.aspx

Explore the RTD website and you will see that it can meet many of your needs. http://www.rtd-denver.com/ and for using your bike, RTD is very supportive http://www.rtd-denver.com/Bike_n_Ride.shtml

Livecontent

[woob]

Originally Posted by strongbone

Hi there,

1. Is it safe to take this ride at all hours, or better not to ride after sundown?
2. Is it even possible to ride during snow (is there snow-removal from bike-paths)?
3. How hard it is to ride in this heat (leaving 7:00-8:00, returning 16:00-17:00)?
4. I thought about getting a motor-bicycles or electric-bike. Any insights?
5. Alternatively, is getting a scooter is a good option (driving in snow, parking, theft)?

I've ridden from Denver to Anschultz and found it a very safe and pleasant ride. Bike paths in the Denver area are often plowed before the streets are even cleared. You will want some thick tires and warm clothes, but it is definitely doable. I much prefer to ride in the snow than in the rain. The nice thing about our dry climate is that if you leave at 7am, it will always be cool, even in the middle of the summer. You will work up a sweat riding home in the afternoon heat, but mornings will generally be in the 60's.

Try it a few times and you may find a second car is not necessary at all.

[strongbone]

Thank you guys for the information.

I will be a postdoc fellow at the medical school. As suggested, I will try biking in the different seasons and see how it goes. Indeed, rain is a bigger problem than snow.

By the way, while visiting Denver a few months ago I have noticed that generally there are not many scooters and motor bikes around (compared to where I come from). Any suggestions? Is it not affordable to ride a scooter than a car?

Thanks

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by strongbone

Thank you guys for the information.

I will be a postdoc fellow at the medical school. As suggested, I will try biking in the different seasons and see how it goes. Indeed, rain is a bigger problem than snow.

By the way, while visiting Denver a few months ago I have noticed that generally there are not many scooters and motor bikes around (compared to where I come from). Any suggestions? Is it not affordable to ride a scooter than a car?

Thanks

We are a rich country and many more people can afford an automobile where a scooter is a less expensive form of transit. We have had cheap gasoline throughout our history and we can afford to drive our desired big cars and trucks; the rest of the world pays much more. Even though we complain today about the price of "petro", it is still a bargain in this country and consequently a thrifty scooter is not necessary.

Scooters are cheap because the smaller engine sizes do not need to cost to register as the larger ones and motorcycles. They have not caught on for the other reasons that have mentioned and many consider them not safe when you share the road with a monster truck.

Today very small cars like the "Smart" are being introduced into the market because they have good gas mileage. This cars are designed for just urban drive around transit and meet the needs nicely but many American buy more than is required with bigger engines, 4 wheel drive so they can be ready for everything and everywhere and we do drive farther in our large country. Even though these cars are relatively inexpensive, they have not yet caught a big market of the consumers who consider these mini cars too small and a scooter would even be less desired.

We are a people where our passions of our youth begin in the backseats of our first motorized conveyances and a scooter would not so attract with the display of our plumage. We continue with the tradition of carry around that past need, even now that we can afford an improved place to make our progeny.

Livecontent

[robertgoodman]

50cc scooters are fairly popular in central Denver because they can be treated like a bicycle when parking so that makes it much cheaper and easier to get around.

However, you will rarely see scooters outside of central Denver because they cannot keep up with the higher street speeds and parking is not as scarce. Nowhere in America are you going to see the scooter utilization that I have seen overseas (Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Italy, etc.).

[strongbone]

I've been in the states a few times, several cities and areas, and indeed didn't see many scooters or motor-bikes. I had a feeling that the main reason is that fuel price is more than 50% lower than where we are, and roads are huge and fast.

Your suggestions and insights were very helpful. I guess I will start with biking to work (at least twice a week), and once I am more familiar with the area, will combine it with public transportation.

Once we get to Denver I will surly have more questions, and it is great to know that there are so many people willing to help.

Thanks

[mic111]

Welcome to the area! I think your plan is good in most years but this summer we have terrible air quality due to fires. They aren't likely to go out until fall so exercising outside can be bad for your health until it clears up. Make sure you have a public transport back-up option.

[strongbone]

Originally Posted by mic111

Welcome to the area! I think your plan is good in most years but this summer we have terrible air quality due to fires. They aren't likely to go out until fall so exercising outside can be bad for your health until it clears up. Make sure you have a public transport back-up option.

I heard about these fires and the extra hot and dry weather you have this year. Hopefully it will be the end of it when we arrive.

Thanks