By Jon Dyer, Assistant Director of Sustainability & Procurement
Summer is here and it’s time to ride! This year, Naropa is a proud sponsor of Boulder’s Walk and Bike Month. There are still a few more activities this month, but the big event is Bike to Work Day on Wednesday, June 24th. Be sure to sign up and be entered to win some cool prizes like bikes, Rockies tickets, concert tickets and gift cards to Sports Authority and IKEA. Check out the many breakfast stations along your route to campus. At the end of the day, stop by Naropa’s table on Arapahoe near main campus for a cool beverage and Clif bar for the ride home. We would love to see as many Naropa participants as possible!
Naropa has long supported bicycling. For years, we have had the beloved Bike Shack, offering free bike rentals for all community members. Last year, we received a grant from Kaiser Permanente to expand the scope of the Bike Shack, establishing Naropa Cycles, which offers an Earn-a-Bike program where community members can learn basic bike maintenance skills and build their own bike. We also offer drop-in classes on many topics to anyone in the community. Learn more.
There are so many reasons to put the fun between your legs and with the impacts of climate change becoming increasingly concerning, carbon free travel is a great idea. It’s also great exercise and can save money on gas, of course. Personally, I find the most satisfaction in my increased quality of life and well-being. Slowing down, feeling the breeze in my face, listening to the birds, and contemplating the peace and beauty that surrounds us day to day on my way to and from work is so simple and yet so profound. It’s a beautiful thing. Whatever your reason is, get out there. See you down the road!
For more on Bike to Work Day in the Boulder/Denver area, check out this article from Roots Rated.