Bingo Burger was the destination for cyclists to meet fellow riders, and upon showing up with a bicycle, 20 percent was deducted from their meal purchase. Richard Warner, owner of Bingo Burger, said he is grateful when customers dine-in when they commute via bicycle.
“We have always been supportive of the biking community,” Warner said.
He went on to say that it is not only beneficial for people’s health, but a fun activity to participate in. Warner also felt that bicyclists were great for his business. He explained when customers ride to his business, it frees up parking spaces for his customers who drive vehicles.
Many of the cyclists at Bingo Burger are participating in the 3rd annual Commuter Cup Challenge, which is sponsored through Pueblo Active Community Environments. Kim Arline, a Parkview Medical employee, is the volunteer leader of organizing the Commuter Cup Challenge.
“Our mission is to make Pueblo a more walk-able, bike-able, community,” Arline said.
Arline has been working alongside PACE to help set up the Commuter Cup Challenge since 2009.
“PACE has been helping develop policies for the Commuter Cup Challenge,” she said.
Cyclists can register in teams of three to more than 386 per group from local businesses or just a group of family or friends in the Commuter Cup Challenge to have a chance at some donated prizes at the end of the challenge in mid June.
The amount of miles each biker rides are logged by the honor system. Log sheets for miles ridden can be obtained from PACE at activepueblo.net. Business owners like Warner are stepping forward in support of the commuter cup challenge.
“We want to help out these riders, and give something back to them,” he said. “Three years ago nobody was doing this,” Arline said.
When the Commuter Cup Challenge began in 2009 maybe 18 to 20 people participated in the challenge she said. Now, Arline believes that those numbers have risen into the hundreds.
“This year is a little more laid back and less competitive,” Arline said.
She feels that her main goal now is to push for a more bicycling active community. Arline went on to say that Pueblo is a very biker friendly community with many safe biking routes that are easily accessed from most places in town. .
Arline feels that there are not many cyclists that commute to CSU-Pueblo, but with the addition of more bicycle racks recently she hopes this will allow people to have access to storing their bicycles safely. There are some obstacles that Arline and the bicycling community face.
“Connecting bike trails is one thing we are working very hard at completing,” she said.
Arline is optimistic that a grant from Live Well Colorado will help with completing some of the disconnected trails. Cycle of Life bicycle shop owner Dan Gomez said he is supportive of PACE, and the Commuter Cup Challenge.
“It’s all about raising awareness for people to start bicycling,” he said.
Information concerning registration for the Commuter Cup Challenge and general bicycling can be found at activepueblo.net.
