The state estimates that 87% of rural households have sufficient broadband access, but those estimates are based on self-reported data from internet providers. Hard data on technology access is limited in Colorado. “And then just imagine if all of that’s also in a language that you’re not used to.” “I think about all the quick little keypad strokes that I know that for my 70-year-old parents, it … blows their minds,” she said. From the discussions, a wide range of problems emerged: families couldn’t access online forms for pandemic assistance kids couldn’t attend school online older adults couldn’t manage food deliveries and people couldn’t receive telehealth services.Īccording to Schalit, many suffering the most were part of immigrant communities or did not speak English as their first language. Schalit launched an internet-equity roundtable early during the pandemic to bring together different groups throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and identify technological issues. “We can hustle and get it done, but the systems have to change.” “The valley rallied super hard (during the pandemic), and we still let people fall through the cracks,” said Sydney Schalit, executive director of Manaus, a social-justice nonprofit based in Carbondale. Many of the resulting initiatives will continue to help some people connect long after the pandemic is over, but major gaps still remain. Nongovernmental organizations, school districts and government agencies in rural mountain towns acted quickly to bridge the digital divide. “Now we know that even with loosening restrictions around COVID, digital literacy is still going to be essential for our participants.” “Digital literacy has always been an obstacle, but pre-COVID, we had other areas that came more to the forefront,” said Lara Beaulieu, executive director of English in Action. Technological inequities have long been present in rural places such as the Roaring Fork Valley, but the sudden shutdowns illuminated just how deeply entrenched the problem was. As a result, English in Action lost about a third of its participants during the pandemic. While Posada was able to persevere, many in valley residents were never able to jump on a Zoom meeting. But many people in the Roaring Fork Valley were cut off from certain services or activities because they lacked access to the internet and/or the technical know-how needed to use it. Other sections may be groomed for cross-country skiing or remain unmaintained.When the pandemic hit, life pretty much moved online. During the winter months, the trail is plowed when snowfall exceeds 3” between Glenwood Springs and Main Street, Carbondale. Vault toilets are installed at the vicinity of Cattle Creek and Catherine Store Bridge. There is only one potable water source on the trail at the Basalt trailhead next to the Basalt Highschool, plan to bring your own water as there is no other water source along the length of the trail. Picnic tables and benches are provided at various locations, as are trash cans, recycle bins and dog waste stations. Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) are permitted with restrictions. Wheelchairs, both motorized and non-motorized, are permitted. The trail is open to those on foot, those on horseback, and those using human-powered equipment such as bicycles, in-line skates and skateboards. The pavement is 8 to 10 feet wide with soft surface shoulders of 2 to 6 feet. The Rio Grande Trail treadway is asphalt surfaced with some sections of concrete and compacted gravel. RFTA now manages and maintains the trail corridor, in conjunction with Pitkin County Open Space and the City of Aspen, in their respective jurisdictions. In 2001, RFTA was formed and thus a dedicated funding source for transit and trails was created. This presented an opportunity to explore both transportation and recreation solutions to Highway 82 congestion and trail connectivity challenges in the Roaring Fork Valley. In 1997 the right of way corridor was purchased with a combination of funding by local governments, Great Outdoors Colorado, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Train operations in the corridor ceased in phases, between the 1960s and the mid 1990s. The Rio Grande Trail is a rails to trails project which is built in the Aspen Branch of the historic Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The Rio Grande has 42 miles of continuous multi-use trail and is completely protected from vehicular traffic except at intersections. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority manages the greatest portion of the Rio Grande Trail which runs from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, Colorado.
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