Inside the Movement to Make Colorado Springs a True Bike City
Is Colorado Springs a Bike Town or a Car Town?
Quick answer: Colorado Springs is both. It's a car-dependent city by design—sprawling, hilly, and built around major corridors like Powers Boulevard—but it's also one of the top cycling destinations in the world, with an extensive trail network, a growing bike-share program, and a booming e-bike scene. Local transportation leaders say the city is steadily shifting toward becoming a true cycling destination rather than just a place you drive through.
That's the takeaway from a recent conversation with three people shaping how the Pikes Peak region gets around: Tara McCarthy of PikeRide, Tori Giffin of the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, and city transportation planner Carrie Childress. Below, we break down what they had to say—and what it means if you live here, ride here, or just sit in traffic here.
Is Colorado Springs really one of the best cycling cities?
Yes. According to local cycling advocates, Colorado Springs ranks among the top bicycle destinations in the world when measured by the sheer amount and variety of riding available—road, gravel, and especially mountain biking. The region pairs an urban downtown with a 14,000-foot mountain backdrop, a combination almost no other U.S. city can claim.
The catch is geography. The city is highly sprawled, with significant elevation changes, which means cars remain necessary for crossing town or reaching some trailheads. As McCarthy put it, you may need to drive to a trail system, but once you're there, the outdoor amenities are outstanding. The verdict from all three experts: car-centric in layout, but unmistakably an outdoor city at heart.
Why does the city spend money on bike lanes if I'll never use one?
This is the most common objection from frustrated drivers—and the answer is about more than cyclists.
Every person who gets on a bike is one less car on the road. That means less congestion, better air quality, and safer streets for everyone, including the drivers who never touch a bike lane. So even if you only ever drive, more cycling infrastructure still works in your favor.
One clarification from the city side: for a high-speed corridor like Powers Boulevard, the goal isn't a painted bike lane in the road. It's a separated trail running alongside the road—safer for riders and less disruptive to traffic.
What are the biggest gaps in the Colorado Springs bike network?
The city is currently studying the "bike level of comfort" on every street in Colorado Springs and overlaying that data on its existing trail and bike-lane networks. The goal is to plan new connections prescriptively rather than piecemeal.
If there were one priority connection to fund right now, the city planner named Tech Center Drive, because it links to Ute Valley Road. It's an expensive fix—the tight terrain there would require building a retaining wall, not just striping a lane—but it's a high-value link in the network.
Riders also pointed to the east side of the city as underserved. The central and west sides have excellent creek-side and trail access; extending that connectivity east, and eventually toward Powers and the airport, would make the city far more bike-friendly.
What is PikeRide, and what's new in 2026?
PikeRide is the Colorado Springs bike-share program, offering e-bikes that riders can pick up and drop off around the city. Several big changes are rolling out in 2026:
Expansion into Southeast Colorado Springs. Funded by a state grant, PikeRide is launching its first Southeast station within weeks, with 20 bikes dedicated to an area that has historically lacked transportation options—and whose residents specifically requested the service.
Adaptive recumbent electric tricycles. These mobility-aid cycles can be reserved and rented affordably for riders who need them, including visitors to the city.
PikeRide Plus: e-bikes for $35 a month. This low-to-no-cost leasing program lets a rider take home an e-bike—with added storage and safety accessories—for $35 per month. With 40 bikes cycling through the program, organizers estimate it could affect hundreds of residents over time, since each returned bike is safety-checked and passed to the next person in line.
For context on the cost: compared with fuel and maintenance for a car, a reliable e-bike for $35 a month can be life-changing for a lower-income individual or family.
Are e-bikes good or bad for cycling?
Both, according to the experts—but mostly good.
The upside: E-bikes are a great equalizer. They lower the barrier for people with mobility challenges, longer commutes, or fitness levels that would otherwise keep them off a bike. They get more people riding, more people commuting, and more cars off the road—which helps congestion, air quality, and public health. Many riders who start on an e-bike eventually build the fitness to ride a traditional bike, too.
The challenge: Innovation brings new questions around policy, education, and safety. There's also a common misconception worth clearing up:
What counts as an e-bike? A true e-bike must have functional pedals and a motor of no more than 750 watts. Many products sold as "e-bikes" are actually electric motorcycles or electric dirt bikes, which fall under different rules.
How can I get into cycling if I'm not a "cyclist"?
You don't need spandex, clip-in shoes, or a Strava account to ride in Colorado Springs. Local advocates compare a welcoming bike culture to a dude ranch: you don't have to be a cowboy to get the cowboy experience, and you don't have to be a cyclist to enjoy the ride.
A few low-pressure ways to start:
Grab a PikeRide e-bike and explore downtown or the Garden of the Gods area—no bike ownership required.
Join a community ride. Family-friendly options like the Pop Cycle ride loop through Monument Valley Creek, and weekly group rides welcome everyone—helmets, no helmets, jorts, and very little spandex.
Try mountain biking with a group. The region is a mountain-biking mecca, and organizations like the Trailblazers lead groups from beginner to advanced through spots like Red Rock Canyon Open Space.
Load a route using Ride with GPS or MTB Project, or grab a map from Parks and Rec or Visit Colorado Springs.
How can my business become bike-friendly?
Leaning into cycling can transform a business, and it doesn't require a full redesign. The essentials:
Offer safe, visible bike storage. Riders' biggest concern is where to park a bike—and they want to see it, not tuck it around a corner.
Say it on your website. A simple line—"Colorado Springs is a great place to bike; ride yours when you visit"—goes a long way, especially for downtown spots with limited car parking.
Point people to resources. Link to local trail maps and route tools so guests can plan a ride from your front door.
Cycling is fundamentally about community, and bike-friendly businesses tend to attract a healthier, more engaged clientele.
Could Colorado Springs become a cycling tourism destination?
Very likely—and advocates argue the city has already "built it" and simply needs to market it better.
Towns like Fruita, Colorado, and Bentonville, Arkansas, have generated millions in annual cycle-tourism revenue, driving up home values and attracting professionals who want to live in fully bikeable communities. Colorado Springs has the trails, the variety, and the scenery to compete. With Visit Colorado Springs and city leadership now paying closer attention, expect to see more marketing that leans into the region as a top bicycle destination.
What would make riding in Colorado Springs safer?
The experts named several high-impact changes:
Lower speed limits. Higher vehicle speeds dramatically increase the chance of a fatality in a crash. A pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car traveling 30 mph faces a very high risk of death—so reducing speeds protects everyone.
Address distracted driving. It's a leading deterrent for new riders and a real danger to current ones.
Better separation. Simple painted lines dividing cyclists from pedestrians, plus buffered bike lanes with physical barriers, make riders feel—and stay—safer.
Education. Two examples: drivers should not cross into a bike lane to make a right turn (a point sometimes taught incorrectly in driver's ed), and pedestrians should know that pressing the crosswalk button actually stops conflicting traffic and triggers the walk signal.
Rethink rights on red downtown. Drivers turning right on red often roll into crosswalks while looking left, creating conflicts with people on foot.
When is Bike to Work Day in Colorado Springs 2026?
Bike to Work Day 2026 is Wednesday, June 24—always the last Wednesday in June. It's the centerpiece of the city's Bike Month celebrations, and it's planned six to eight months in advance.
Here's how to take part:
Visit coloradosprings.gov/biketowork for an interactive map showing trail networks, bike facilities, and breakfast and party stations.
Around 38 stations are signed up, several of them party stations, each with its own vibe.
Plan your route from home to work and stop at as many stations as you like.
Expect breakfast treats along the way—mini waffles at the Buffalo Lodge, plus pancakes and live podcasting at a downtown station. (And yes—there will be bacon.)
The bottom line
Colorado Springs isn't choosing between being a bike town and a car town—it's becoming a city that gives people the choice. With trail expansions, affordable e-bike access through PikeRide, growing cycle-tourism momentum, and a community that's genuinely welcoming to new riders, the direction is clear. As one local put it, that first e-bike ride tends to leave you with a grin—and turn you into an addict like the rest of them.
Whether you commute, ride for fun, or just sit in traffic wishing it were lighter, more bikes on the road is good news for everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colorado Springs a good place to bike? Yes. It's considered one of the top cycling destinations in the world thanks to its extensive trail network and variety of road, gravel, and mountain biking, set against a striking mountain backdrop. The main limitation is the city's sprawl and hilly terrain, which still make cars useful for crossing town.
How much does PikeRide cost? PikeRide offers pay-as-you-go e-bike rentals, and its PikeRide Plus leasing program lets qualifying riders take an e-bike home for $35 per month, including storage and safety accessories.
When is Bike to Work Day in Colorado Springs? It falls on the last Wednesday of June each year. In 2026, that's June 24.
What legally counts as an e-bike? A true e-bike must have functional pedals and a motor rated at 750 watts or less. Vehicles exceeding that or lacking pedals are generally classified as electric motorcycles or dirt bikes.
Why does the city build bike lanes? Because every rider replaces a car, reducing congestion and improving air quality—benefits that reach drivers, too, not just cyclists.
