Thank you for your interest in helping Boulder community members ride safely in snowy conditions!
The City of Boulder is committed to multi-modal transportation, including year-round access to bus transit. The city’s new Shovel-a-Stop Program is an effort to increase the number of bus stops cleared after each snow event. The current budget supports contractors hired by the city to clear approximately 40 high-ridership stops after snowfalls resulting in at least 2-inches of accumulation. This program aims to bolster that number with community volunteer support. Clearing bus stops helps prevent slips and falls and increases safety and accessibility for bus riders of all ages and abilities.
This program is a great opportunity for individuals, families, neighborhood groups or community organizations.
Location: An approved RTD bus stop (or multiple) maintained by the City of Boulder, which is not currently cleared by a city-hired contractor (see map of adoptable stops).
Date: Labor Day – Memorial Day (snow season-dependent)
Responsibilities & Time Commitment
- The time commitment will depend on the amount of snow that falls this winter, tools participants have available and size of the bus stop adopted. Typically, the annual snow season lasts from October to May. Program participants should plan to clear their adopted bus stop after each snow event with 2-inches of accumulation or more, within 24 hours after snow stops falling (view the NOAA tracker). Contact 303-441-3200 with questions.
- Reporting of miscellaneous concerns about bus stop condition (303-441-3200), such as the presence of graffiti, overflowing trash, broken transit furniture, etc. is encouraged and appreciated. You can also submit concerns to [email protected] or the "Submit a Maintenance Request" directly from the dashboard in Count Me In.
- You are volunteering to clear your adopted bus stop(s) using your own tools. City of Boulder will not be providing shovels, ice melt, etc. to you.
- Tracking of volunteer hours and resources should be submitted regularly. Volunteer reporting will be submitted to your CountMeInBoulder account. The City organization has a coordinated volunteer program and tracking contributions (volunteer hours) helps to ensure continued support, funding and resources as well as the ability to appreciate and acknowledge the extensive volunteer contributions the community provides. Tracking contributions also allows us to ensure we have proper documentation from a legal perspective, and the ability to contact volunteers easily in the case of an emergency.
- Option to renew annually.
Requirements
- The desire to support the Boulder community by keeping adopted bus stops cleared and accessible for folks of all ages and abilities who wish to use RTD.
- Sign a volunteer acknowledgement of Risk and Release and provide signed copies to staff for any additional volunteers that are recruited to assist with clean-up efforts
- Complete a Shovel-a-Stop volunteer application
- Review the Volunteer Handbook
- View the training video that staff will provide upon approving your application
- Review the Shovel-a-Stop Tips for Volunteers document
- Warm and reflective clothes & non-slip boots and a shovel
- Be familiar with the safety hazards of this job which are stated in the agreement
- Be our eyes and ears and report vandalism or any maintenance concerns to city staff (please fill out a request through Inquire Boulder: http://bit.ly/InquireBoulder).
- Be courteous and personable when dealing with the public, such as transit riders
- Maintain 6-foot distance from others to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please wear a face covering when within 15’ from others. If you are alone outside no face covering is required.
- Be self-directed, willing to take initiative, and detail-oriented
- Report volunteer hours monthly using CountMeInBoulder
