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Golden installing data-collection system for tubing season

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

anks to an extended run-o season, Golden’s usual tubing season hasn’t quite kicked o yet. But when it does, the city has new measures in place to improve safety and collect data.

e city’s putting the nishing touches on its new data-collection system, which will use RFID-chipped stickers on innertubes and solarpowered sensors along the creek to assess how many people are tubing, how many trips they’re taking, and more.

Golden will install six creekside sensors and has an initial 3,500 stickers on order, Deputy City Manager Carly Lorentz said, adding that she hopes everything is ready by the Fourth of July weekend. Current cost estimates for implementing this system are about $40,000, she stated.

City o cials expect that tubers will only need one sticker for the entire season. Local out tters will have separate stickers, so the city can determine how many people are renting from out tters versus bringing their own tubes, Lorentz con rmed during the June 20 City Council meeting.

City o cials previously discussed using wristbands for data collection, pursue stickers because they’re less wasteful and will track tubes instead of people.

Other corridor changes

Along with the sticker system, Golden is putting the nal touches on other changes along the creek corridor.

e city has launched the free Ore Cart shuttle for downtown visitors, which will operate Fridays through Sundays this summer.

While the Ore Cart won’t be able to transport those with tubes, Lorentz said local out tter Adventure West is now selling shuttle passes to all tubers, includes those bringing their own and those renting from other out tters.

Event parking will be available at Colorado School of Mines’ Lot K, which is along 11th Street. Lorentz and City Manager Scott Vargo claried how the lot will be open and free all summer — as the city has an agreement with Mines to use it — but Golden won’t advertise it at all except for event parking.

“We didn’t put (Lot K) on any of our creek parking information,” Lorentz continued.

Over the past few weeks, Golden’s also widened sections of the north trail with crusher nes, and installed location markers on both sides of the creek to help with emergency response.

It’s also setting up ambassador wel-