The city of Durango has added new events to its Clean Commute Week, which celebrates clean modes of transportation.
This year, Clean Commute Week will run from Saturday to June 27 and feature new additions, including the Skirts-Only Ride or Run, a Sunday bike ride for those on their way to church, a group mountain bike ride and the E-bike Cruise.
Clean Commute Week grew to the event it is today after the formation of the multimodal transportation coordinator position was created in 2009. The city had a bike to work day before, which was started by the Shaw brothers, two locals, but it made sense to expand it to be more inclusive, said Amber Blake, assistant city manager of Durango.
The event has expanded each year and has a different feel each year depending on what multimodal project is happening, Blake said.
Now in its 10th year, Clean Commute Week continues to celebrate clean ways of transportation.
During the week, alternative modes of transportation, such as rolling, walking, using public transit and carpooling, are celebrated with different events being held around town.
The event is not only meant to celebrate alternative modes of transportation but also seeks to have conversations about Durango’s transportation values, said Sarah Dodson, assistant director of transportation for the city of Durango in an email.
“Clean Commute Week is a great opportunity for our community to celebrate one of the things that makes Durango so special,” Dodson said. “So much of the country is stuck in boring commutes and traffic jams, while we get to ride our bikes along the Animas River Trail to work, or carpool with our neighbors, or hang up the keys and ride Durango Transit.”
Organizers said that “crowd favorites” will be making an appearance this year, including the Paul Wilbert Memorial Passeggiata.
This event is held in memory of Paul Wilbert, a member of the multimodal board who died in 2016. Participants will start a group bicycle ride at Buckley Park before taking laps around Main Avenue and eventually finishing at Carver Brewing Co.
Dodson said it has been a great experience working with local businesses and organizations to add new events.
“It is evidence of the amount of support there is for a variety of transportation options we have here in Durango,” she said.
Clean Commute Week will also increase awareness of alternative and clean modes of transportation.
“We really want to draw attention to the fact that there are dozens of ways to get from A to B, and the city of Durango is working hard to make sure that it is as safe, convenient and fun for everyone as possible,” Dodson said.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.durangogov.org .
bmandile@durangoherald.com
