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TravelBank.com - TRANSPORTATION - Ground
Ground Transportation Index
BUS / CHARTERS
Airport Shuttles
Ground Touring Companies
Safe Driving Information
RESOURCES
BUS / Charter:
PEOPLE'S CHOICE TRANSPORTATION
1-800-777-2388
Local Denver (303) 289-2222
Colorado's Transportation Specialist - Affordable Rates
INDIVIDUALS & GROUPS
o Airport Transfers o Local Denver
o Ski Areas o Scenic Tours
It's like the old Gart Ski Lift but it leaves from Ramada Inn at 6th & Simms,
0700 I think (yawn). $20 + a discounted lift ticket; it only serves A-Basin &
Keystone. You could catch Summit County Stages to the other Summit County
Resorts though you'd need to watch connections back to Keystone or you'd miss
it. Tickets can be purchased on board or by cr. cd. when making res.
Thanks Roger ....
SEDANS - VANS - LIMOUSINES - MINI BUSES
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Colorado Mountain Express, Aspen, Vail, 1-303-949-4227.
Discover Colorado Tours, 277-0129
Peoples Choice, All Over, 800-777-2388, affordable rates
Resort Express, Summit CO., 1-800-334-7433
RESORT EXPRESS
P.O. Box 1429
Silverthorne, CO 80498
800-334-7433
970-468-7600
970-468-0364 FAX
resexp@csn.net e-mail
ww.aescon.com/misc/resexp
Providing ground transportation between Denver International Airport
and Summit County, Colorado.
Resort Express has been safely serving Summit County since 1982. We
offer scheduled DOOR TO DOOR service between Denver International
Airport and Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain ski resorts and the
towns of Dillon, Silverthorne, and Frisco. For schedule and rates see
the Resort Express home page http://www.aescon.com/misc/resexp. To
make reservations call 800-334-7433.
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Scenic Mountain Tours, 303-665-7625.
Vans to Vail, 1-800-222-2112, 303-476-4467, Winter & Summer, Roger Russell.
BUS AND BUS CHARTER SERVICE:
PANORAMA Coaches, P.O. Box 38308, Denver, CO 80238, 303-288-2500 Denver
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The GRAY LINE, P.O. Box 38667, Denver, CO 80238, 303-289-2841 Denver
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AIRPORT SHUTTLES:
SUPER SHUTTLE
Yellow Transportation
7500 East 41st Avenue
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 370-1300
(303) 399-3111 Fax
Airport Shuttle Service
to/from
Denver International Airport
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Ground TOURING Companies
A Private Guide, Inc.
2940 East Colfax Avenue
Suite 401
Denver, Colorado 80206
(303) 758-8149
apgsid@aol.com
"Escorted Vacations"
A Private Guide, Inc. located in Denver, Colorado since 1991, is a
licensed group charter transportation and touring service company.
*-TravelBank.Com-*
SKI TRAIN:
Winter Park Ski Train 296-ISKI; groups and charters: (303) 295-5911
The entire train is non-smoking.
Saturdays (execpt X-mas) and Sundays from December 18 through April 3.
Boarding begins at 6:30 a.m.
Departs Denver 7:15 a.m.
Arrives Winter Park 9:15 a.m.
Departs Winter Park 4:15 p.m.
Arrives Denver 6:15 p.m.
Prices: (All Fares are same day round trip and are non-refundable.)
Coach Class: $30 Club Car: $45
Denver & Ski Train Niake for Businessman's Special
Saturday Night Stay-over Leads to Sunday Winter Park Skiing
For anyone with business in Denver this winter, the Rio Crande Ski Train
provides a wonderfil opportunity for hassle-free skiing, while saving the
company money on air fares.
Just book a Saturday night stay over in Denver, with savings of 40% or more
on regular fare coach fares, and plan on riding America's most beautiful ski
train to the slopes on Sunday.
The Ski Train has been operating scheduled nuns to Winter Park since 1940.
The train leaves Denver's downtown Union Station at 7:15 a.m. each Saturday and
Sunday (and Friday in March) and travels the 56 miles to Winter Park in
approximately two hours. Skiers are deposited at the foot of the slopes, just
50 yards from the ski lifts. Winter Park is one of Colorado's largest ski areas
with 121 designated trails offering 39 miles of skiing, all served by twenty
lifts including six high speed express quads, five triple chairs and nine
doubles.
After a full day of skiing, the train leaves Winter Park at 4:15 p.m.,
arriving back at Union Station at 6:15 p.m., just in time for dinner at one of
the 65 restaurants and brew pubs that surround the station in Denver's "LoDo,"
Lower Downtown historic district.
But the best reason to ride the train is for the trip itself. In 56 miles,
the train climbs 4,000 feet in elevation, burrowing through 29 tunnels,
including the Moffat Tunnel, the highest paSsenger train tunnel in the U.S. The
tracks cling to sheer cliff faces, high above roaring ice-c:utted rivers below,
There are sweeping views of snowcapped peaks, die great plains and the fatnous
Eldorado Canyon with its 500 foot high black rock walls. At night on the return
trip, all the lights of Denver can be seen as the train snakes its way out of
the mountains down on to the high plains.
Prices for the train for same day round trip are $35 coach class or S35
club class, which includes a continental breakfast and apres ski snacks. The
quarter-mile long train has nine coach cars, three club cars and two cafe-lounge
cars and seats 730 people, making it the largest regularly scheduled passenger
train in Amenca.
For Ski Train reservations call: (303) 296-4754.
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The "ADEQUATE SNOW TIRES OR CHAINS REQUIRED" Law
The Colorado Department of Highways has the authority to require all vehicles
traveling over portions of the highway to be equipped with adequate snow tires
or tire chains under certain hazardous driving conditions. The TravelBank will
carry notification of these conditions in the Road Condition Report.
Gone are the days of "check stations" with motorists pulled over to the side of
the road for tire inspections. Instead, signs are posted, allowing troopers and
maintenance workers alike to perform more important duties and clearing the road
or accidents. Motorists encountering a restricted area will see signs as "Snow
tires or chains required, 1500 feet" or, "Snow tires or chains required beyond
this point."
FOUR wheel drive vehicles with adequate tire tread (1/8 inch or more) and all
four wheels engaged will be allowed to proceed when adequate snow tires are
required on TWO wheel drive vehicles.
A list of equipment that is considered adequate for use under hazardous driving
conditions is outlined below:
A. Acceptable When "SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED"
1. Conventional mud and snow tread (M/S) with or without studs, with a
minimum tread depth of 1/8 inch.
2. Tires of the all weather type bearing the mark (M/S), with a minimum
depth of 1/8 inch.
3. Four wheel drive vehicles (all four wheel's engaged) with adequate
tires:
a. adequate tires include those with conventional tread, with a
minimum tread depth of 1/8 inch or those mentioned in 1 or 2 above.
4. Any type of tire with plastic chains.
5. Wavy snowtreads with steel wire protruding.
B. Acceptable during "CHAINS ONLY" condition:
1. Any type tire with conventional steel link chains.
2. Any traction device other than metal chains, that is capable of
providing traction equal to that of metal chains under similar
conditions.
3. Four wheel drive vehicles (all four wheel's engaged) with:
a. conventional mud and snow tread designated (M/S) with or without
studs, with a minimum tread depth of 1/8 inch.
b. tires of the all weather type bearing the mark (M/S), with a
minimum depth of 1/8 inch.
4. "...any other traction devices differing from such metal chains in
construction, material, or design but capable of providing traction
equal to or exceeding that of such metal chains under similar
conditions." The State legislature changed statute C.R.S. 42-4-410 in
1988 to accommodate devices like the hub-mounted Spider-Spikes brand.
STUDDED TIRES
are allowed in Colorado year-round. But motorists who travel to adjcent
states should be aware of the laws in those states restricting the type of
studs or time of year studs may be used on the highways. Most states have
passed statutes designed to reduce the highway surface wear and tear caused
by tire studs.
NEW MEXICO - Does not permit studded tires.
WYOMING - Allows year-round use of studded snow tires, and like Colorado
requires chains during extreme snow emergencies.
UTAH - Prohibits metal studs outright, the year-round; Utah law allows the
use of so-called "soft studs," tungsten carbide fragments in a soft
metal matrix, but only between October 15 and April 15.
NEBRASKA - Department of Roads issues special permits, but studded tires are
restricted to the period November 1 through April 1.
KANSAS - Law allows the use of studded tires from Nov. 1 through April 15.
OKLAHOMA - Allows their use between November 1 through April 1.
ARIZONA - Allows studded tire use from October 1 through May 1.
*-TravelBank.Com-*
PREPARING YOUR CAR
In addition to equiping your car with adequite snow tires or chains, the
defroster, heater, windshield wipers and brakes should be checked regularly.
Your car should also carry the following items:
1. A bag of sand and shovel
2. Warm blanket
3. Flashlight
4. Flares
5. Jumper Cables
*-TravelBank.Com-*
GAS-O-HAUL
EMERGENCY FUEL CARRIER
1-888-428-5872
REVOLUTIONARY NEW PRODUCT. AFTER OVER 7 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING,
THIS ONE OF A KIND PRODUCT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. GAS-O-HAUL: THE
WORLDS' FIRST COLLAPSIBLE, DISPOSABLE, EMERGENCY FUEL CARRIER. THIS APPROVED
CARRIER HOLDS 3.5 LITRES (APPROX. 1 U.S. GALLON); IT FOLDS FLAT 6"x 14"x 2"
AND IS MADE OF A SPACE AGE METALLIZED BLADDER WITH A FIBERBOARD SHELL.
COMPONENTS ARE DISPOSABLE AND RECYCLABLE. LIES FLAT FOR EASY STORAGE.
CERTIFIED TO CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. UNITED NATIONS PACKAGING
STANDARDS. MANY GAS STATIONS NO LONGER CARRY GAS CANS. GAS-O-HAUL IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF EVERYONE'S STANDARD EMERGENCY KIT! MADE IN USA.
AS FEATURED IN POPULAR MECHANICS.
*-TravelBank.Com-*
WINTER DRIVING TIPS - CDOT, Colo Department of Transportation.
BE PREPARED FOR WINTER
Colorado's winter driving conditions can range from sunny, warm, and
dry to freezing rain, blowing snow, and black ice. Travel in
Colorado's spectacular mountains, canyon country, and vast plains can
be as exhilarating in winter as summer.
It's best to be prepared at all times, and especially in the winter.
This includes knowing the road conditions, knowing your vehicle, using
proper driving techniques, and having the right gear and equipment
along. This brochure will give you information you need to make good
decisions about winter driving.
ROAD CONDITIONS NUMBERS
Major highways in Denver and within two hours of the metro area (303)
639-1111 Major highways throughout Colorado (303) 639-1234
Recorded information for sections of Colorado is available by calling
the following numbers:
Southeast
Colorado Springs (719) 635-7623
Lamar/LaJunta/Arkansas Valley (719) 336-4326
Pueblo/Canon City/Salida (719) 545-8520
Trinidad (719) 846-9262
South Central
Alamosa/San Luis Valley (719) 589-9024
Southwest
Durango (970) 247-3355
Cortez (970) 565-4511
Montrose/Gunnison (970) 249-9363
Northwest
Grand Junction (970) 245-8800
Glenwood Springs/Eagle (970) 328-6345
Craig (970) 824-4765
Frisco/Summit County (970) 453-1090
Steamboat Springs (970) 879-1260
Hot Sulphur Spgs./Kremmling (970) 725-3334
Northeast
Fort Collins (970) 482-2222
Sterling (970) 522-4848
Fort Morgan (970) 867-2021
Greeley/Fort Lupton (970) 356-7420
Limon (719) 775-2000
Denver Metro Area
Denver/Suburbs (303) 639-1111
Adjacent States
If your travel plans will take you outside Colorado, call these handy
phone numbers for recorded
road condition information:
Kansas (913) 296-6800
Nebraska (308) 632-1351
Wyoming (307) 632-9966
Utah (801) 964-6000
New Mexico (505) 827-9126
Oklahoma (405) 425-2424
*-TravelBank.Com-*
GENERAL WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Be sure your vehicle is in good working condition before you begin your
travel. In the event you become stranded in your vehicle, its good
working condition can save your life. Have the following checked:
Ignition
Battery
Lights
Heater/Defroster
Wiper Blades
Antrifreeze Level
Fuel System
Exhaust System
Brakes
Tire Tread
Keep the following emergency items in your vehicle when traveling at
all times, and especially in the winter:
Flares/Reflectors
Blanket/Sleeping Bag
First Aid Kit
Shovel
Sand/Gravel/Traction Mats
Scraper/Snow Brush
Flashlight/Batteries
Matches/Lighter/Candle
Nonperishable Food
Booster Cables
Chain/Tow Rope
Tire Chains
Coat/Parka/Gloves/Hats
Colorado's winter driving experts, the Department of Transportation
maintenance workers who patrol the highway system, offer the following
advice to winter motorists:
Slow down! Drive according to conditions.
Drive cautiously around snowplows
Gear down on uphills and downhills
Do not use cruise control in slippery conditions
Leave extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead
Do not drive in unsafe conditions
Always remove ALL snow & ice from your vehicle windows before driving
Plan ahead; gear down and slow gradually
Always use your seatbelts
Following are general driving techniques which will help you keep your
car under control in winter's slippery or wet conditions:
Maintain Traction - Starting and stopping gradually, with gentle
pressure on accelerator or brake pedals, will help the vehicle maintain
traction and avoid spinning tires or spinouts. Drive at steady speeds,
avoiding sudden acceleration or braking. You may want to accelerate
slightly when approaching a hill, then maintain a steady speed going
up. Gearing down on uphills or downhills can also help the vehicle
maintain traction and avoid spinouts.
Skids - Avoid skids and spinouts as much as possible by driving under
control and steadily, and anticipating turns or lane changes well in
advance. If your vehicle begins to skid, remove your foot from the
accelerator or brake, and steer in the direction of the skid. When the
vehicle steadies itself, turn the wheels straight and proceed.
Braking - Gentle braking pressure is the rule during slippery
conditions. Gentle pumping action on disk brakes will avoid locking
the wheels and skidding. Anti-lock braking systems provide this action
for you. Avoid braking on curves by driving through them at safe
speeds. Gear down for downhill segments to avoid using brakes as much
as possible.
TIPS IF STUCK OR STRANDED
If you get stuck on a snowy road, or your car slides off the road, the
following guidelines will help you decide what action to take:
1. If the road ahead is clear, use your shovel and traction mat or
sand to free the vehicle. Dig out around all wheels and underneath
the vehicle. Ease the vehicle out gently and steadily to avoid
spinning. After checking your owner's manual, you may want to try
rocking the vehicle to get it moving again.
2. If the road ahead is not clear, conditions are bad, and there is no
shelter in sight, you are stranded. In this case, do not leave
your vehicle. Be sure your exhaust is not blocked by snow. Run
the vehicle only for a few minutes at a time in order to stay warm,
and keep a window cracked slightly open for ventilation. Use the
emergency supplies mentioned in this brochure.
Dress in layers for warmth, and cover your entire body with a
blanket or sleeping bag. If there are two or more persons, huddle
together for warmth.
3. If you are stranded, do not panic. Colorado Department of
Transportation maintenance crews will be working to open the
highway and look for stranded motorists. If you are stranded on a
secondary or backcountry road, your best survival chance will rest
in staying with the shelter of the vehicle until the storm passes
so that you can be spotted or you can proceed on foot in safety.
WINTER STORM DEFINITIONS
Road Closure - It is unsafe and unlawful to proceed past a road closure
for any reason in any season, particularly in winter.
Heavy Snow Warning - Accumulations of 6" or more within 12 hours or 8"
or more within 24 hours are expected at lower elevations, with
accumulations or 8" or more in 12 hours or 12" or more within 24 hours
in the mountain areas.
Winter Storm Warning - Means snow accumulations with a heavy snow
warning, aggravated by blowing and drifting snow.
Blizzard Warning - Means sustained or frequent wind gusts of 35 mph or
more for at least three hours, with visibility reduced to less than 1/4
mile.
WINTER TIRE TREAD RULES
At times, winter travelers may face travel prohibitions unless vehicles
are equipped in certain ways. These could include any of the
following:
Snow tires having adequate tread (design or depth) to provide adequate
traction Four-wheel-drive vehicle with adequate tires Tire chains
Tire chains are defined as metal chains or other traction devices
capable of providing traction equal to or exceeding metal chains under
similar conditions. Studded snow tires are legal in Colorado, but they
may not be adequate to allow continued travel in extreme conditions.
If you plan to travel outside Colorado, check with that state. Studded
tires are prohibited in some states.
-SB-
OTHER TIPS:
'HOT KEY' Frees frozen door lock
You're in a hurry to get to work or an important meeting in Vail or Aspen, and
discover the car door lock is frozen.
Before you decide to just pour hot water down the side of your car, think
again, writers at Road Ahead Magazine advise.
Using the wrong method to thaw your lock could cause damage to your vehicle.
For example, hot water might crack your window glass and ruin your car's finish.
In addition, the water will freeze again very quickly, complicating the
situation.
What method is recommended to thaw your car's door lock? The Automotive
Information Council recommends heating your key. You can use a match, lighter
or other heating device. Wear GLOVES to keep from burning your hands on the
hot key. If the lock doesn't thaw right away, just repeat the process; thawing
will eventually take place. In the fall all door and hatch locks should be
sprayed with WD-40 or similar type water displacement chemical.
-CtB-
ALWAYS Scrape the snow from ALL of your windows, including side mirrors,
prior to driving, its the law...
*-TravelBank.Com-*
DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE -------------------------------------------
WINTER DRIVING TIPS HELP IN NEGOTIATING ICY, SNOWY CONDITIONS
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO It happens every year. The first snow of the winter
season turns most roads into a crude game of bumper cars. However, drivers can
avoid such situations by learning how to control their vehicles on ice and snow.
Jean-Paul Luc, founder and director of the Jean-Paul Luc Winter Driving School,
in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, has been teaching drivers for more than 10 years
the techniques to help them safely negotiate roads in winter weather.
Winter driving can be fun and hazard free, said Luc. You just need to learn to
follow some basic driving rules. Luc offers the following tips to help drivers
handle tough winter conditions:
* Adjust your speed: You should always adjust your speed to the driving
conditions. When driving in winter weather, slow down. You need more time to
react to hazardous conditions.
* Smoothness is key: Avoid rough use of the brakes, accelerator and steering
wheel.
* Gauge tire grip: You want the vehicle to grip the road, not slide on it.
Before you drive, always check the road conditions and assess the level of
grip your tires have. To test the grip, brake hard at a slow speed until you
lock the wheels up (immediately release the brakes). This will give you a
good feeling about the grip, and will help you adjust your braking distance
and speed.
* Conduct one driving maneuver at a time: Always do your braking when the
vehicle is in a straight line before a curve. Take your foot off the brake
before you steer into the corner, and don't begin to accelerate until you are
out of the corner.
* Crossing intersections: On snowy roads, intersections become very slippery
from drivers locking their wheels at the stop sign or red light. Be
especially careful in these areas.
* Changing lanes: Be very smooth with your steering action and never accelerate
or decelerate while changing lanes on snowy roads.
* Negotiating a hill: When driving up a snow-covered hill, make sure you build
momentum on a flat area. As the grade increases and your vehicle begins to
slow down, don’t try to keep the same speed by stepping on the gas. Just let
your speed decrease. Take your time climbing the hill, allowing the vehicle
to keep its grip with the road.
* Avoid understeering: When this happens, your front wheels will not turn. All
you can do in this situation is take your foot off the gas until you regain
control and decrease your steering angle slightly.
* Don't oversteer on a curve: This will cause your rear wheels to
skid out. To regain control, accelerate gently to return grip to the rear
tires and turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid.
* When you get stuck: Avoid spinning the tires because it will create an ice
patch. Instead, gently rock your vehicle back and forth. To do this, apply
gentle pressure on the accelerator and the brake in the drive gear and then in
reverse gear until you can move your car out the rut.
The Jean Paul Luc Winter Driving School will begin its eleventh season of
operation in Steamboat Springs this December, under the sponsorship of the
Jeep/Eagle division of Chrysler Corporation, Michelin North America and The
Weather Channel. Established in 1983 by Jean-Paul Luc, a professional rally
driver from France, the school was the first facility of its kind in the United
States to introduce the theory and practice of driving skillfully on ice- and
snow-covered roads. The school uses a fleet of eight Jeep/Eagle vehicles
demonstrating front wheel drive, four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive handling
characteristics. Featured vehicles are the Eagle Vision, Jeep Grand Cherokee,
and the Eagle Talon.
The Jean-Paul Luc Winter Driving School creates an added attraction for visitors
in Steamboat in the wintertime where they can have fun and learn valuable
driving skills at the same time. The Jean-Paul Luc Winter Driving School is
open seven days a week from early December through mid March. Arrangements for
either private or group lessons can be made by calling (303) 879-6104.
*-TravelBank.Com-*
The American Automobile Association (AA) offers the following tips for
safer winter driving.
SQUEEZE YOUR BRAKES, applying slow, steady pressure.
AVIOD PUMPING, which consists of quick, repeated pressure on the brakes.
NEVER LOCK YOUR BRAKES.
* The key word in winter driving is TRACTION. In order to increase TRACTION,
steering, braking and starting should be done as gradually as possible.
* If your WHEELS start to SPIN, LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR. Traction is greatest
just before the wheels spin.
* ALWAYS ALLOW AT LEAST ONE CAR LENGTH FOR EVERY 10 MILES OF SPEED.
* SKIDDING:
Rear wheel skids are the most common. DO NOT ACCELERATE OR BRAKE.
STEER IN THE SAME DIRECTION THE BACK WHEELS ARE SLIDING. As traction resumes,
gradually turn the steering wheel in the right direction and apply slow
steady pressure to the accelerator.
Front wheel skids: Follow the same directions as rear wheel skids, EXCEPT DO
NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. The front tires will grip the road on their own.
* IF YOU'RE STRANDED IN YOUR CAR, stay in the car with the dome light on and
AVOID RUNNING THE ENGINE FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES EVERY HOUR.
* USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS WHENEVER DRIVING IN A STORM.
*-TravelBank.Com-*
DID YOU KNOW
The Colorado Department of Transportation HOTLINE is available toll
FREE 1-800-999-4997 to accept your questions, complaints, praise
or to help direct your inquiry to the best source within the agency.
The National Weather service and othe government agencies use certain
descripitions for varing levels of winter conditions. From buzzwords to
blizz-words, here is your key to figuring out what level of storm the
announcer or recorder is talking about.
HEAVY SNOW WARNING:
Plains and lower elevations may get snow accumulation of six
inches or more in 12 hours, or eight inches or more in 24 hours.
Mountain areas could experience snow accumulation of eight inches
or more in 12 hours or ten inches or more in 24 hours.
WINTER STROM WARNING:
This warns of snow accumulations as described above, but with
conditions aggravated by blowing and drifting snow.
BLIZZARD WARNING:
This means that the following conditions are expected to last
for three hours or longer: wind-sustained or frequent gusts to 35 mph
or stronger, and snow falling or blowing which will reduce visibility
to less than a quarter mile.
REALITY, AND "THE RULE": be prepared for worse conditions than forecasters
warned about, and smile when anothe "miscall" gives you fair sky or clear
highway. Predicting the weather is as much art as it is science.
In the words of Jane Bryant Quinn: "The rule on staying alive as a
forecaster is to give'em a number or give'em a date, but never
give'em both at once."
Did You Know?
The Colorado Department of Transportation has been installing remote
weather stations in recent years to help maintenance workers react faster
to developing winter conditions. Disc sensors in bridge decks or roadways
read temperatures, moisture conditions and even chemical and salt
concentrations (has this road been sanded or treated with deicers
recently?) At roadside are pole-mounted sensors to read the atmospheric
conditions such as temperature, wind, and whether moisture is falling.
New this winter: a solar powered remote weather station on S.H. 82's
Independence Pass that will gather and store energy even on overcast days,
reporting conditions 24 hours a day during autumn and spring to Glenwood
Canyon's Hanging Lake Tunnel complex where changing conditions can be
radioed to snowplow crews on either side of the pass. Winter will still
close the pass, however. CDOT policy is to close the pass November 7 as a
"latest date" unless snow amounts close it earlier, then open it by
Memorial Day each year unless a thaw allows state snowplow crews to clear
the highway earlier.
DRIVING IN COLORADO'S WINTER
Since none of us can change the storms that will become the
winter, the best we can do is prepare for them, and perhaps enjoy
Colorado's outdoor sports. Here are some tips, gathered from various
sources knowledgeable about winter driving.
PREPARE YOUR VEHICLE
Will your car or truck carry you OUT of trouble, or INTO trouble?
Preparations can determine the answer. Have the following items
checked before your cold weather trips begin:
* Tire tread
* Battery (water level)
* Brakes
* Ignition system
* Lights
* Heater and defroster
* Wiper blades
* Fuel system
* Exhaust system
* Antifreeze level in the cooling system
*-TravelBank.Com-*
"SNOW TIRES REQUIRED"
Under Colorado law, during certain conditions the state's
Department of Transportation or Colorado State Patrol may require
adequate snow treads, tire chains or traction devices for travel. MOST
snow and ice conditions call for snow tread use. In all
cases, "Adequate" tire tread is 1/8 inch tread depth or more.
ACCEPTABLE WHEN SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED:
1. Conventional mud and snow tread (M/S is printed on the
tire wall) with or without studs.
2. All-weather type tires bearing the mark M/S.
3. Four wheel drive vehicles (all four wheels engaged) with
adequate tires. Tires may be conventional, mud and
snow type, or all-weather type (minimum 1/8" tread depth)
4. Any type tire with plastic chains.
5. Wavy snowtreads with steel wire protruding.
ACCEPTABLE DURING CHAINS-ONLY CONDITIONS:
1. Any type tire with cable chains or conventional steel
link chains.
2. "... any other traction devices differing from such metal
chains in construction, material, or design but capable
of providing traction equal to or exceeding that of such
metal chains under similar conditions." (The state
legislature changed statute C.R.S. 42-4-410 in 1988
to accommodate other traction devices).
3. Four wheel drive vehicles (all four wheels engaged) with
conventional mud and snow tread (M/S) with or
without studs, or all weather tires bearing the mark M/S.
"Chains only" conditions actually are rare in Colorado. For
example, last winter the "chains only" conditions were never required
on Interstate 70 between Denver and Vail.
PACK "THE RIGHT STUFF."
There are about a dozen items you can put INTO your vehicle once
its tires and mechanical features have been checked. Some are items
many drivers carry throughout the year. The list includes:
Shovel, Flares/reflectors, Blanket or sleeping bag, First Aid kit ,
Flashlight with extra batteries, Tire chains, Ice scraper, snow brush,
Sand, gravel or friction mats, Matches/lighter; candle, Nonperishable
FOOD items, Booster cables, Tow chain or rope.
RULES OF THE WINTER ROAD
Driving on icy or slick roads, or in storms, or both calls for a
different "set of rules."
Increase your following distance considering visibility and
surface conditions. Stopping on a winter-slick pavement can take three
to ten times the distance required on a dry road.
Clear all glass and lights: a peephole won't give you the all-
around vision you'll need, and you'll want other drivers to see
your headlights and taillights. Besides, it's the law.
Brake on snow or ice by tapping and releasing the brake pedal
in a gentle pumping motion. Disc brakes? The best method for stopping
is very gentle pressure applied to the pedal. When possible, downshift
to a lower gear before you HAVE to brake . . . and don't brake on a
curve unless absolutely necessary. Anti-Lock brakes? These are known
technically as Automatic Braking Systems (ABS) and require drivers to
experiment with them to learn characteristics of their operation.
Colorado State Patrol troopers receive special training using vehicles
with anti-lock brakes. A motorist with a newer car equipped with anti-
lock brakes may check the vehicle's operating manual or ask his dealer
whether a brochure, audio cassette or videotape is available explaining
ABS. Basically, the driver must apply steady pressure to the brake
pedal; this allows the system's computer to "read the road" controlling
each wheel over dry pavement or ice.
In skids, steer steadily without making abrupt changes in
direction. If the vehicle begins to lose traction, gently remove your
foot from the accelerator and/or the brake pedal, steering in the
direction of the skid or slide. If your vehicle has front- wheel
drive, you can continue to use the accelerator steering in the
direction of the skid. When you feel the vehicle straighten out, turn
the wheels straight and keep moving.
WHERE TO CALL
The Colorado State Patrol operates recorded messages on two
separate numbers: 639-1111 gives callers information about road
conditions within a two-hour drive time of Denver, and 639-1234 has
information for highways throughout the state. Residents of rural
towns may call their nearest Patrol office, where information may
be obtained from a dispatcher or a recording.
*-TravelBank.Com-*
MOTORISTS: ICE FREE ROADS AREN'T DANGER FREE
DENVER -- The ice and snow may be melting from Colorado highways this
spring, but drivers shouldn't assume they're safe from hazards of Mother Nature.
If they do, motorists could find a 200-pound buck deer smashing through
their windshields or crushing their car hoods. Colorado Division of Wildlife
officials say unusually high numbers of big game animals are being killed
along certain highways this spring, smashed after dashing in front of oncoming
vehicles. The reason -- the deepest high-country snows in nearly a decade have
pushed game animals to lower elevations in search of food. Compounding the
problem, spring's warmer weather first turns grasses green along roads where
deer and elk congregate to nibble. In fact along the most hazardous stretches -
- such as Interstate 70 near Eagle -- collisions are killing big game
animals faster than crews can clean up the roads.
The Division wants to make sure drivers don't learn the hard way about
avoiding a collision with big game. Here are some suggestions:
Slow down when you see deer or elk munching along roads. Road kill also is
a big clue that the stretch of highway poses risks. At 55 mph, drivers have only
a split second to react when a deer leaps onto the road.
Be wary at dusk, dawn and at night. That's when game animals often graze
and are hard to spot.
Watch sides of the roads for deer and elk. Your headlights can reflect off
their eyes, letting you know they're there.
Pay attention to the headlights of oncoming cars or roadside reflectors.
Any flickering or shadows can be animals crossing.
If a deer or elk is standing in the road, start flashing your headlights.
That can startle the animal so it jumps off the road and can alert other drivers
of the potential hazard.
Avoid tailgating so that you don't smash into the car ahead of you if it
hits a deer.
Don't swerve to avoid hitting a deer. Swerving can make you lose control
of your car and result in more serious damages than if you hit the animal. Also
don't slam on your brakes. Braking causes your front end to dip, tossing deer
onto your windshield. Instead, keep the steering wheel steady and ride out the
collision.
Don't assume deer fencing will keep big game off highways. Animals can
maneuver around fences and through holes. Deer whistles also aren't reliable.
Research hasn't proven them to be effective because they can get clogged easily
with debris and game animals tend to become accustomed to the sound.
Drivers can collide with big game animals on almost any Colorado road. The
worst danger spots include Interstate 70 between Avon and Gypsum; Highway 82
between Glenwood Springs and Aspen; Colorado 13 between Rifle and Meeker; U.S.
40 from Craig to the state line; Colorado 131 from Wolcott to Steamboat Springs
and Colorado 9 between Silverthorne and Kremmling.
The Division and Colorado Department of Transportation have made a top
priority of removing road kill. The Division even has hired temporary workers to
assist, but the problem is so severe this spring that workers cannot keep pace
with the task.
Colorado allows people to claim dead deer, elk or antelope found along
roads. To do that, they must obtain a free road kill permit from Division
offices. Division officials caution that the carcass must be fresh to ensure
that meat is safe for human consumption.
*-TravelBank.Com-*
Return to Transportation Index
RESOURECS:
ROCKY MOUNTAIN VACATION
PUBLISHING, INC.
Hilton & Jenny Fitt-Peaster, Publishers
Hilton & Jenny Fitt-Peaster, Publishers
Rebekah Fitt-Peaster, Associate Publisher
5101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303-2799
800/886-9343 * 303/499-9385 * FAX 303/499-9333
Don't Stall! Just Go - On Vacation!
BOULDER, Colo. - It's time to get that RV parked in your driveway revved up and
moving! The summer is nearly half over and precious vacation time is slipping
away. Don't let the seemingly impossible task of finding an RV park for your
family's unique needs prevent you from taking that much-needed vacation this
summer. A new guide book, full of information about RV parks throughout
Colorado, will soon have you on the road to the Mountains and fun.
Covering everything from site amenities to nearby activities, the new Colorado
RV Parks, A Pictorial Guide: Modern Facilities, Full Hookups & Pull Thru Sites
has it all! Do you insist your site have 50-amp service with cable and phone
hookups? You'll find those options covered. Does your family enjoy fishing,
biking, and whitewater rafting-- or all three?
Numerous RV parks listed offer these activities on site and nearby. In addition
to listing the resorts alphabetically under town/area headings, the book has 15
indexes which indicate the RV parks that feature swimming pools, nearby golf,
pull thru sites, 50 amp service and more!
The following are some of the RV parks you can find in this new, easy-to-use
guide book:
* Flying A Motel & Campground in the Black Canyon Area has activities for young
and old, such as swings, horseshoes, volleyball, and fishing.
* Hermosa Meadows Camper Park, next to the Animas River, has many full hookup
sites with river fishing and a trout pond at the campground.
* Tiger Run Resort in Breckenridge is a luxurious vacation site featuring a
clubhouse and all sites have 5O-amp, fall hookups with cable TV hookup
optional.
Explore these sites and more in Colorado RV Parks. Authors Hilton and Jenny
Fitt- Peaster are experts on Colorado and RV travel. As executive directors of
the Colorado Assn, of Campgrounds, Cabins & Lodges, they have roamed the state
every summer in their RV since 1983. Colorado Cabins, Cottages & Lodges, their
first guide book, published in 1993, is an award-winning success'. Their newest
guide is ideal for planning your long-awaited RV trip.
COLORADO RV PARKS - A Pictorial Guide - Modern Facilities. Full hookups & Pull
Thru-sites.
by Hilton and Jenny Fitt-Peaster
6" by 9", perfect boand
ISBN 1883087-01-5
288 pages, 192 Black & white Photos
$15.95 + postage
*-TravelBank.Com-*
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*-www.travelbank.com-*
Reproduced, with permission, from TravelBank.com Systems.
Computer Information Utility, Travel & Recreation Information.