Walking Mountains Sustainability Blog

Sustainability Tips: Catching the Bus to the Hill

Written by Kimberly Schlaepfer | Dec 3, 2019 5:00:00 PM

Ski season is finally back! As are the traffic jams and parking nightmares that can often be associated with big powder days. This year, rather than hopping in your car to ride for the day, try the low-emissions option of taking the bus to ride! 


We’ve even sorted through the schedules to let you know exactly what bus to catch in order to make it up to Vail or Beaver Creek for a powder day. We've also calculated, based on your route, how much pollution you would save by taking the bus this ski season. 

Plus, added bonus, after your day is done and you’ve enjoyed a great apres celebration on the mountain you have an easy, convenient means to get home safely. 

Note each route below will ensure you arrive at the hill in Vail or Beaver Creek before 9:00am.

DOTSERO

Getting There Getting Home Impact

Bus Stop: Two Rivers Village / Dotsero Mobile Home Park

Departure Time (Two Rivers Village): 6:53am

Departure Time (Dotsero Mobile Home Park): 6:56am

Arrival Time (Avon Station): 8:21pm

Arrival Time (Vail Transportation Center): 8:39am

The bus leaves from Vail Transportation Center at 4:40 & 5:40, & from Avon

 

Station every hour on the 35-minute mark. 

To Avon: Could save you 1.7 gallons of gas, 64.88 lbs of pollution, $5.13 dollars (per day)

 

To Vail: Could save you 2.1 gallons of gas, 83.3 lbs of pollution, $6.59 dollars (per day)

 

GYPSUM

Getting There Getting Home Impact

Bus Stop: Eagle Valley High School

Departure Time: 7:24am

Arrival Time (Avon Station): 8:21am

Arrival Time (Vail Transportation Center): 8:39am

The bus leaves from Vail Transportation Center every hour on the 21-minute mark & from Avon Station every hour on the 35-minute mark. 

To Avon: Could save you 1.4 gallons of gas, 54.88 lbs of pollution, $4.34 dollars (per day)

 

To Vail: Could save you 1.9 gallons of gas, 73.5 lbs of pollution, $5.81 dollars (per day)

 

EAGLE

Getting There Getting Home Impact

Bus Stop: Chamber Park N Ride

Departure Time: 7:51am

Arrival Time (Avon Station): 8:21am

Arrival Time (Vail Transportation Center): 8:39am

The bus leaves from Vail Transportation Center every hour on the 21-minute mark & from Avon Station every hour on the 35-minute mark.

To Avon: Could save you 1.1 gallons of gas, 41.36 lbs of pollution, $3.27 dollars (per day)

 

To Vail: Could save you 1.5 gallons of gas, 59.98 lbs of pollution, $4.74 dollars (per day)

 

EDWARDS

Getting There Getting Home Impact

Bus Stop: Freedom Park, Park N Ride

Departure Time: 7:27am

Arrival Time (Avon Station): 7:45am

Arrival Time (Vail Transportation Center): 8:18am

The bus leaves from Vail Transportation Center every half hour on the :05 & :35 minute mark & from Avon Station every half hour on the :28 & :58 minute mark

To Avon: Could save you 0.3 gallons of gas, 9.8 lbs of pollution, $0.78 dollars (per day)

 

To Vail: Could save you 0.7 gallons of gas, 28.62 lbs of pollution, $2.26 dollars (per day)

 

MINTURN

Getting There Getting Home Impact

Bus Stop: Forest Service Park N Ride

Departure Time: 8:23am

No service to Avon 

Arrival Time (Vail Transportation Center): 8:30am

The bus leaves from Vail Transportation Center every hour on the :31 minute mark, between the hours of 4-8pm 

To Avon: Could save you 0.4 gallons of gas, 16.07 lbs of pollution, $1.27 dollars (per day)

 

To Vail: Could save you 0.5 gallons of gas, 18.42 lbs of pollution, $1.46 dollars (per day)

 

RED CLIFF

Getting There Getting Home Impact

Bus Stop: Highway 24 & Water Street

Departure Time: 6:40am

No service to Avon

Arrival Time (Vail Transportation Center): 7:13am

The bus leaves the Vail Transportation Center at 4:25 & 5:10pm.

To Avon: Could save you 0.4 gallons of gas, 16.07 lbs of pollution, $1.27 dollars (per day)

 

To Vail: Could save you 0.5 gallons of gas, 18.42 lbs of pollution, $1.46 dollars (per day)

 

 

Vail/Avon There are numerous buses that run through town to get folks from Vail and Avon to the hill. If you live in, or are visiting one of these communities, check out their bus schedules at:

https://www.eaglecounty.us/Transit/Schedules/

https://www.vailgov.com/bus-schedules

https://www.avon.org/2083/Transit

 

Want to check out different time options or a bus stop that’s closer to your home? Head over to ECO Transit’s website and check the schedule to find the times that work best for you! Trouble reading the schedules? Email ECO Transit and they will help find you the best route for your ski commute!

Sources:

https://www.eaglecounty.us/Transit/Schedules/

https://www.vailgov.com/bus-schedules

https://www.avon.org/2083/Transit

 

Average MPG: 20 mpgs

Lbs of CO2 per gallon of gas: 19.6 lbs

Source: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references

Price per gallon of gas: $3.10
Source: Driving around town looking at fuel prices

 

Kim Schlaepfer is the Climate Action Collaborative Manager at Walking Mountains Sustainability. When she isn't catching the bus to ski powder days at Vail, she can be reached at KimS@walkingmountains.org