Those that have ridden public transportation may know the "final mile problem" is when a bus route drops a rider off at a stop that is more than a quarter mile from their final destination. A quarter mile is what transportation coordinators consider a reasonable walking distance. When the rider has to walk further than that to get from their stop to their destination the final mile problem occurs.
The same issue happens when public transportation users have to walk more than a quarter mile from their home to access transportation and is called the "first mile problem." Coordinators say both issues prevent people from taking advantage of public transportation.
That's why Boulder County has created the Bus Then Bike program.
"Any time we do a program we want to make sure that there's a problem that we're solving, that it's not just a cool idea but that it's actually a problem that exists out there in transportation world," Scott McCarey, Alternative Transportation Coordinator for Boulder County, told 9NEWS.
The program, which launched in November 2011, provides secure facilities in Boulder and Longmont for commuters with the first or final mile problem to store bicycles so they don't have to walk.
"This Bus Then Bike program allows people to keep a bike overnight at their destination side so they can the bus coming in and then jump off and grab that bike really easily and then take it the last stretch," McCarey said.
So far the county has built two Bus Then Bike shelters, one near 28th and Iris in Boulder and another at 8th and Coffman in Longmont and they plan to add a third location by the end of the year.
The program is free of charge however the shelters are limited access meaning they require a key card in order to enter. Anyone who is interested can apply to receive a key card by visiting BusThenBike.com.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)