E-bikes for rent at Chatfield State Park in Littleton now available

Electric bicycle, aka E-bikes, are now available for rental at Chatfield State Park in Littleton, the Colorado Governor's office said in a release Thursday.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Executive Director Shoshana Lew discussed the new rentable electric bicycles at Chatfield State Park on Wednesday while promoting Colorado's new statewide e-bike safety campaign, "Go Safe, Go Far" as well.

“Outdoor recreation is the cornerstone of a fun summer in colorful Colorado. These new rentable e-bikes give Coloradans another opportunity to get outside, enjoy our beautiful state, and stay active this summer" Polis said.

"E-bikes reduce traffic and pollution while saving people money and time. Colorado continues to expand access to e-bikes both through tax credits to save Coloradans money when buying and by low-cost creating rental programs like this one. I encourage Coloradans to try out a Chat E-Bike and explore Chatfield State Park.”

The Governor's Office said since launching in May, riders have taken 387 trips totaling 543 miles using Chat E-Bikes.

The Governor's Office said users scan the QR code at the station, pay $1 to unlock the bike and $0.25/per minute to use, allowing park visitors to rent an e-bike to explore the state park or cycle the entire reservoir — which is approximately 11 miles in length.

The program is a joint venture between Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

"We are thrilled to offer the first share system for e-bike visitors to Chatfield State Park," Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs said. "This new program will expand the diverse recreational and wildlife viewing opportunities that Chatfield has to offer. The Department of Natural Resources remains invested in offering new recreational opportunities like this through our unparalleled state park system.”

Officials are monitoring the program to see whether it can be expanded to other state parks.

In addition to the e-bike rental program, Colorado Parks and Wildlife also offers state park visitors with accessibility challenges the experience of hiking vigorous trails through its track chair program, which launched at Staunton State Park in 2017 and has expanded to Barr Lake and Ridgway State Parks.

The Governor's Office said plans to continue expanding to Lathrop, Fisher’s Peak, and Cherry Creek State Parks are in the future.

Staunton SP is a nationwide leader in the field and will pass 2,000 total track chair rides this summer, according to the Governor's Office.

Track chairs are free for visitors of all ages to use through a reservation system.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife is committed to making our state parks accessible for all and utilizing alternative fuel options through electric bicycles," said CPW Director Jeff Davis. "We’re grateful to our CDOT partners for their collaboration in bringing this e-bike share system to Chatfield."

The governor emphasized the importance of staying safe while riding and highlighted CDOT's new e-bike safety campaign, "Go Safe, Go Far" (GoSafeGoFar.com).

The Governor's Office said the program will remind Coloradans about bike safety practices to keep themselves and other Coloradans safe.

"While traffic deaths decreased by 6% statewide last year, fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists remain distressingly high, making up 21% of all traffic fatalities," CDOT Executive Director Lew said.

"It is important to employ common sense safety practices like using lights and reflectors, slowing down at intersections, and wearing a helmet at all times."

Important reminders to cyclists when riding e-bikes:

• Wear a helmet
• See and be seen: use lights and reflectors on your bike and wear light-colored clothing or a safety vest
• Use a bell or electric bike horn to communicate with other riders and drivers
• Use bike lanes where you can, and always ride in the correct direction in them
• Slow down ahead of intersections and hazards
• Educate yourself on local traffic laws, including where you're allowed to ride a bike and where you're not
• Remember that local speed limits, which is 20 mph on Denver neighborhood streets, apply to bikes as well
• If you've just purchased a new e-bike, try it out in a safe environment without power or at low throttle first before accelerating. Learn how it is different than a traditional bicycle
• Don't ride with headphones
• Don’t ride while drunk or under the influence of other substances