Some time ago, the communities along the Peak to Peak region had means of getting around. There were designated stops for drop-offs and pickups. Those who needed help getting to appointments had options, and there was plenty of support to offer such a service. Wouldn’t it be nice if it were that way again?
Thanks to Via, they are! The need for transportation in our mountains inspired the newly launched Mountain Rides, a Peak to Peak Housing & Human Services Alliance program. As of November 14, 2022, this free shared ride service provides flexible, wheelchair-accessible transportation to the public.
Registration through Via is required by calling or visiting their website. Once registered, you can schedule specific rides or sign up for rides listed on their monthly calendar. You can schedule rides for any purpose, including medical and therapy trips, employment, education, and shopping. For the time being, the bus will run Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Any community member in the service area between Ward and the Gilpin County Public Library can receive a ride. Travel to Boulder and Denver is possible. Drop-off and pickup locations are in Ward, Nederland, Rollinsville, Wondervu, and mid-Gilpin. Option for home pick-up and drop-off can be scheduled as available.
Please keep in mind that this is a new program and will take some trial and error. As Via learns the best way to make the service work, the community will have to practice patience while details are sorted out.
They promise to do their best to adapt and adjust to the needs of the community. Betty Abel, Mountain Transportation Coordinator shares, “With time, we will see where we need to provide more service or less. We eventually plan to expand to include the communities in the north end region, adding Allenspark, Jamestown, and Gold Hill areas.”
Along with managing Mountain Rides, Abel will be building a driver volunteer program that will complement the Mountain Rides service to help maximize ridership and continue to address transportation needs in our area.
Via hopes to have a full schedule for drivers within a year. “The transportation options up here are one of our biggest issues. Seeing that need, the Mountain Transportation Coordinator was hired to facilitate the launch of the Via bus and start the driver volunteer program to help the Peak to Peak community take advantage of other transportation options available.”
During the pandemic, Via had an extra bus and, thanks to CDOT funds, offered it to the town of Nederland for use throughout the Peak to Peak region. Boulder County’s Mountain Mobility service offered to pay the match to get the grant.
“It proved harder to find a local driver than we expected so it wasn’t until September of 2022 that the driver was hired. While we were waiting for the driver to come on board, Peak to Peak formed the Mountain Mobility Committee with representatives from local organizations who were interested in transportation initiatives in the Peak to Peak region.”
Other programs offered by Via include a Family & Friends program that allows a person to drive a family member or friend to an appointment and be reimbursed. These, however, have to be approved by Via.
Mountain Rides is working hard to keep it all local. The Mountain Rides operated by Via bus driver is Jane Curtis, a long-time resident of our mountain community. She was the previous owner of Keep Magnolia Clean LLC. “We feel lucky to have a local who knows the area driving for our community.”
Mountain Rides by Via is located at 750 Highway 72, Nederland. To learn more, register, or schedule a ride visit www.viacolorado.org. Mountain Rides by Via can be reached at 303.444.3043. Once registered, you can call 303-447-9636 to request a ride. They can also be reached by email at p2pvia@gmail.com. To learn about the Peak to Peak Housing & Human Services Alliance, visit: https://www.p2phhs.org/.
Sponsored by the town of Nederland, with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
