Colorado State University is recognized nationwide as a leader in sustainability. One contributing factor is that nearly half of the faculty, staff and students use alternative forms of transportation to get to campus – taking the bus, biking, walking and sharing a ride – according to a recent university commuter survey. Using alternative transportation is good for physical and mental health. It also helps reduce parking space demand on campus, cuts down on vehicle congestion and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Getting around campus and Fort Collins
Bike/walk/scoot/skateboard
Fort Collins has relatively flat terrain and a temperate year-round climate, making it easy to get around using CSU’s separated trails and bike lanes. Most places on campus are near one another, so getting from Point A to Point B can be relatively quick. Getting across main campus typically takes about 10-minutes by bike/scooter/skateboard; 20-minutes by foot.
CSU is a platinum-level Bicycle Friendly University and Fort Collins is a platinum-level Bike Friendly Community – both receiving the highest designation available by the League of American Bicyclists, through a combination of bicycling infrastructure, education, encouragement, and planning.
More than 18,000 campus bike racks accommodate student, employee and visitor bikes, and bike lanes/paths are abundant across campus and throughout Fort Collins. The on-campus bike shop, The Spoke, is a student-led bike maintenance and educational training center that helps keeps bicyclists rolling by promoting best practices on bicycle maintenance, safety and repair. They also offer free interactive training and guidance, as well as fee-based services.
Need a bike? Rent one through CSU!
Bike Rentals are available to CSU students, faculty and staff, as well as to CSU Departments, through The Spoke for a semester or full academic year.
- Annual Bike Rental fee includes U-lock; CSU bike registration; annual tune-up; major maintenance.
- Individual Bike Rentals may be paid for at the Spoke with cash, credit card, RamCash.
- Accessories such as helmets, bike lights, bells, etc. are available for an additional fee.
- Bike Rental fees:
- Academic Year – $220.
- Full Year (includes Summer) – $275.
- Fall Semester – $110.
- Spring Semester – $110.
- Summer Session – $110.
For more information, (970) 491-2736; bikerentals@colostate.edu; or visit bikerentals.colostate.edu
For an extra boost, SPIN e-scooter/e-bike share offers electric bikes and scooters for public use, available for rent via the Spin app.
Free U-Lock bike locks (while supplies last) are available to students who register their bike through the CSU Police Department. For more information, contact CSU PD. U-Locks have been proven to be the most effective locks for deterring bike theft, especially when combined with a cable lock.
Transit
CSU has worked closely with the City of Fort Collins to plan bus routes convenient for students, faculty and staff. With a CSU RamCard/ID, several services are included through the municipal bus service, Transfort, to get around town, including the Around the Horn on-campus shuttle service, and the MAX transportation line that runs north/south along the five-mile Mason Street Corridor.
ZipCar
As an alternative to keeping a car on campus, Zipcar is a car rental program available to CSU students 18 and older to use for personal trips, recreation and errands.
Safety/education
Commuters on campus need to feel confident and protected. In order for students to feel safe when using alternative transportation, CSU has developed an online course, CSU Moves, which introduces students to local transportation options, and key strategies for navigating campus safely and efficiently.
Students can also be rewarded for safe bicycling practices through the Rams Ride Right positive reinforcement education program that rewards bicyclists on the CSU campus for following the rules of the road and using safe cycling practices. Additionally, the President’s Vision Zero Task Force has come together to examine all mobility and safety related to the many modes of transportation on and near the main CSU campus. “We want to encourage and empower people to use alternative transportation by providing safe and efficient routes,” said Aaron Fodge, CSU’s director of active transportation and fleet services. “We don’t want them to feel intimidated or afraid to leave their cars at home because of a bad experience or because they don’t know the safest route to take.”
Leaving town
Getting out of Fort Collins is easy without a car. There are convenient options for getting to Denver International Airport (DIA) via shuttle services, and to Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and the Western Slope via RTD bus services, Bustang, and FLEX Regional Service.
Interested in getting rides for ski/snowboard trips in the winter? CSU offers the SkiSU shuttle service, providing round-trip transportation between CSU and designated ski resorts for a minimal fee.
Resources
- Find out more about CSU options for alternative transportation.
- Check out the Fort Collins bike map.
- View an interactive campus map of alternative transportation routes.
- On-line campus bike registration.
- For one-on-one assistance with transit, biking, walking, boarding or scooting, contact Erika Benti, CSU Parking and Transportation Services, (970) 491-7600, benti@colostate.edu.
- For questions about parking, call (970) 491-7041, or colostate.edu.
