CDOT's Ride Sharing Event Hopes To Shorten Mountain Drive Time
DENVER (CBS4) - Sliding down a mountain is winter's greatest pastime -- but driving Interstate 70 to get there is the season's worst nightmare. It's a "painful drive," said one local. The Colorado Department of Transportation recognizes this, and is making another move to ease ski traffic jams along I-70.
CDOT estimates more than 30,000 vehicles drive through the Eisenhower Tunnel on winter weekends, but believes it can cut that number down by 10,000 if those vehicles had four passengers.
This weekend CDOT promoted ride sharing options at the park and ride lot in Morrison and at Union Station in hopes of shortening the ride to the mountains. That's why it's encouraging people to buddy up with a stranger.
"Strangers? Oh gosh. Um I'd probably have to go up with another friend," said one traveler at the park and ride lot. There are positives, though, including, "Less traffic and you don't have to drive up alone," said another driver.
To find a ride sharing partner, go to skicarpool.org. On the message board you say where you want to ski, when, and offer to share the price of gas. It's important to be flexible, though, and keep in mind that, "You could be in there for 6 hours with a total nut job so you never know," thought one rider.
Another said, "I may want to leave early, I may want to leave late. I may be having a great day I may be having a bad day. I may want to stay longer. Depends how my legs feel."
Another option is to ride a shuttle bus. It works well because, as one rider explained, "I don't have to put wear and tear on my car, have somebody else do the driving for me."
The Front Range Ski Bus has 30 seats for riders to relax on the drive. "Get on your phone, Facebook, Pinterest, read a book for a little while," explained one rider.
A bus ticket is $39 to Loveland or Copper only, with deep discounts off the price of the lift ticket. "The bus offers you snacks and water on the bus, so it's a great time," said a rider.
Sometime next month, CDOT is planning to repeat this newly debuted ride sharing event. That means once again you could pick up discounted lift tickets at six resorts, parking discounts, and raffle drawings, all while potentially improving your mountain drive.
