Sept 2nd Early Bird Hike & Bike
Garden of the Gods Park will be closed to vehicles on Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 5-8 a.m.
The closure will accommodate an “Early Bird Hike & Bike,” an opportunity for people to enjoy the park and its roadways without vehicles. Offered free-of-charge by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department, this experience is in response to a community request. The format was successfully tested during Bike to Biz week on June 24.
This is the only Early Bird Hike & Bike scheduled in Garden of the Gods Park at this time.
Feedback collected Wednesday from users will help determine future offerings.
BikeCOS Facebook Events
Bike Colorado Springs Motorless operations involvement and Support
Bike Colorado Springs has been part of ongoing conversations with members of city council and Parks staff, in hopes of expanding motorless operations in Garden of the Gods Park. This Early Bird Hike & Bike with motorless operations are a great step forward. Our position at BikeCOS has been that motorless operations are a reasonable operating condition for our parks and don’t necessarily need to be treated as special events.
BikeCOS is also excited to be deploying our BikeCOS ambassadors to help direct Parks staff with operations and direct users during this morning of motorless operations.
Early Bird Hike & Bike Guidelines, Details and Background
Due to COVID-19, the park’s popular and well-attended biannual Motorless Morning events, held in the spring and fall since 2018, have been cancelled in 2020. Taking its place is the Early Bird Hike & Bike, a scaled version of Motorless Morning.
All normal park rules will be enforced, and all visitors are asked to follow public health guidelines, including practicing physical distancing and wearing a face covering when a minimum of 6 feet can’t be maintained. As always, e-assist bicycles are allowed, as are all other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMD) and inline or roller skates. Due to safety concerns during this scaled event and per normal park rules, skateboards/longboards are not allowed.
Parking is available in the naturally-surfaced overflow lot near the park’s main entrance (30th Street and Gateway Road) and in the parking lot at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post (324 Beckers Lane, Manitou Springs). Accessible parking spaces are available at the Trading Post.
