tread lightly

It’s not always easy being Green with more than 2,000 riders on one bike tour, but in 2009, we did it! Not only did we satisfy our own urges to “do the right thing” but we became a positive example for other bike events around the country. Now, in our 25th year, we'll look to step it up again, challenging ourselves to further decrease waste sent to the landfill and increase the amount of biodegradable products we use. We'll bring back our “Sustainability Stage Winner Jersey Program” which encourages our riders to educate one another to minimize waste and we will unveil new programs with the intent to maximize sustainability. We look forward to your participation...after all, it is you, the riders, that help make this event more sustainable, so listen for a call to action in the coming months!

• Compost - 3,870 pounds
• Recycling - 685 pounds
• Landfill - 1,915 pounds (includes waste left in dumpsters at schools and entertainment sites)
• TOTALS - 6,470 pounds
• Percent of waste left out of the landfill - 70.4%
• Ride the Rockies Personal Hours Dedicated to Sustainability: 480 hours
• Ride the Rockies Volunteer Hours of Support: estimated at 250 hours
• And the Riders: Countless hours of love putting their orange and banana peels in the right place!
• Thank you for helping us go from 0 to a 70% landfill diversion rate in just one year!
• This year’s goal…80% or more!

This year, in teaming up with ZeroHero, cyclists may expect the following:

• Colorado Carbon Neutral
  Ride The Rockies will support Colorado-based carbon offsetting programs to balance out the carbon dioxide emissions we produce during the event. Granted, our bikers are promoting optimal "carbon consciousness" each time they crank a pedal, but our event does kick up some dust.
• Waste Diversion Efforts
  All headquarter sites, entertainment sites, and aid stations will be zero waste, diverting 80 percent or more of our waste from the landfill. ZeroHero will utilize local recycling and composting systems to turn waste into future resources. All food vendors will be required to use recyclable and compostable products. Zero waste is also a state of mind - participants will have opportunities to learn and practice "Leave no Trace" ethics along the route.
• Leave a Positive Legacy
  It's why we do what we do. Communities in which we travel through will be the focus of legacy programs, donations and grants; giving special consideration to promote biking culture and healthy lifestyles to our youth. What do bikes and sustainability have in common? They both gain momentum with a little push and get eaiser the more you practice.
• Rolling out Renewable Fuels
  Ride The Rockies will continue to use renewable fuels in select event vehicles. Biodiesel and ethanol blends will replace petroleum fuels in ZeroHero "sustainability crew" trucks and other ride support vehicles. By using these cleaner-burning, domestic fuels, we're able to reduce our drag.
• Green Jersey Awards
  Back again in 2010 is the ZeroHero Green Jersey! Each day a limited edition green jersey will be awarded to a cyclist that either ZeroHero or the "Green Rider" catches supporting Ride The Rockies' Tread Lightly initiatives. A jersey will be awarded daily at 5:00 p.m. at the entertainment site.

Do your part to offset your personal travel to Ride the Rockies!

Ride the Rockies has made a commitment to be 100% carbon neutral. All emissions from the production of the ride will be offset by making a donation to the Colorado based nonprofit Trees, Water and People. You too may participate in this effort and offset your personal travel through a donation to this award winning program. Check out the map below and see how much we suggested you donate based on the geographic area in which your departure city is located, then click here to visit the Trees, Water and People donation page. Make sure to identify your donation by choosing Ride the Rockies in the "Program Area" drop down menu.

Carbon Offset Map

Thanks in advance for your efforts to minimize your footprint and waste, leaving a favorable impression on the people of Colorado so that communities continue to embrace Ride The Rockies.

We are proud to partner with green companies. See how these underwriters of our sustainability initiatives are treading lightly: