Page 22 - Green Builder Jan-Feb 2021

Sprawl resistant. Boulder has
several ways to preserve the area’s
natural beauty, including a “Blue
Line” ordinance that prohibits water
service to properties above a
certain elevation. CREDIT: OWEN ALLEN/FLICKR

OULDER, COLORADO, MAY not be a household name
MID-SIZED MUNICIPALITY when it comes to U.S. cities (for many people, the first
Boulder, B communities, “The People’s Republic of Boulder” has a
thing its name brings to mind is the late 1970s TV
show, “Mork and Mindy”). But among green-minded

reputation for putting nature and the environment at the top of the
Colorado lifestyles list.
The city has embraced bicycling as the way to travel through the
community, reduce carbon emissions and provide the populace with
healthy exercise. Forbes, the advocacy group PeopleForBikes, and The
Travel Channel have all placed Boulder at or near the top of “Top
Cycling City” lists, largely due to its extensive network of bike lanes,
multi-use paths and designated bike routes. The city also offers some
POPULATION: 105,673 fringe benefits, such as vending machines with spare bike parts,
tool boxes on loan from local businesses, and “B-cycle” kiosks where
When visiting this ‘Republic,’ it’s impossible a rider can check out a bike for free for 30 minutes. “The minute
not to bump into, step on or catch sight of you set foot in Boulder, you’ll see plenty of helmeted, lycra-clad
something that’s simply sustainable. cyclists,” notes the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
“[Often, they’ll be] in groups, getting in a workout over their lunch
breaks, riding to and from work or reveling in a carefree weekend
ride.” (Reportedly, “Mork & Mindy” star and comedic legend Robin
Williams, himself an avid cyclist, pushed for a show setting that
could emphasize bike use.)
The City of Boulder has other green plans underway. Environment
Sustainability threatening situations such as diminished Rocky Mountain range
snowpack and winter snowfall, hotter summer temperatures and a
Awards 2021 higher pollution level led to the declaration of a climate emergency
in 2019. The city, through its Climate Mobilization Action Plan, has
now set 2030 as the deadline for running entirely on renewable

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