Accessibility in Boulder

In Boulder, we believe that mobility for people of all abilities is a fundamental right. Our sustainable multimodal transportation system connects people safely and seamlessly to each other and to the community. We strive to provide a transportation system with a variety of safe, accessible and sustainable travel options. This builds a stronger community in which everyone feels a sense of belonging. We recently completed a self-evaluation to create our ADA Transition Plan in order to prioritize accessibility improvements and develop a plan for implementation.

We work with many partners regionally to help insure mobility for all.

• Via Mobility Services is a local nonprofit committed to helping people with limited mobility remain independent by offering comprehensive transportation solutions in our community. Via offers a free door-through-door accessible transportation service, and provides information and referrals to help community members understand what options are available.
• The Regional Transportation District (RTD) provides accessible public transit service across the region and in Boulder:
  • All RTD buses, including local routes like the HOP and SKIP, and regional routes like the FF1 to Denver Union Station, AB1 to Denver Airport, and BOLT to Longmont, are ADA-accessible with low-floor boarding, deployable ramps, and securement areas for assistive devices.
  • The RTD Access-A-Ride program offers paratransit services regionally.
• Lime, our shared e-scooter provider, has a program called Lime Assist. As part of this program users can request an adaptive scooter be delivered and picked-up from their door for a 24-hour use period.

• Learn more about transportation and mobility in Boulder

We are committed to creating a community of all abilities through recreation.

• Our EXPAND program does this by enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through the fun of recreation while promoting development and growth through programs. At EXPAND, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists work together to facilitate recreation and leisure-based activities to assist our participants.
• We support inclusion in general recreation programs so that community members experiencing disability can participate in the wide variety of programs we provide across the city.
• We also provide programming designed especially for participants with disabilities, including pickleball, soccer, movie nights, cooking classes and more. Additionally, we require our partners (e.g. Groundworks Art Lab) to make sure programs are accessible.

• Learn more about the EXPAND program

The City of Boulder has a long history of providing outdoor recreation opportunities for people of all abilities on its open space and mountain parks.

• Making sure trails are accessible for everyone starts with how the trail is designed. The city has developed an extensive network of accessible trails designed using federal accessible trails guidelines.
• Our downloadable Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Accessible Trails and Sites guide describes 30 open space areas that are accessible to the average wheelchair, walker or scooter user. For each location, it details available facilities, like bathrooms and accessible picnic areas, and analyzes the difficulty of access. We also have several trails that are designed to accommodate adaptive mountain bikes and are we are committed to building more.
• The city also has a designated Sensory Trail designed for people with vision impairment with interpretive signs along the trail available in braille for low-vision hikers.
• A big part of inclusion is making people feel welcome. It can be stressful for many people with disabilities to go somewhere and not know what they’re going to encounter. Our website features several fast-motion videos that show an entire accessible trail to help make hiking easier, more available and more enjoyable for people with disabilities.
• A variety of outdoor programs and resources are available for people of all abilities, including adaptive bike rides and Roll and Stroll hikes.

• Learn more about programs and services for visitors experiencing disabilities

As part of our commitment to equity and inclusion, we are dedicated to ensuring that our digital services and technologies are accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities. Since launching our digital accessibility program, the City of Boulder has made significant strides in aligning our technology practices with new state requirements. Our progress reflects a multi-year, cross-departmental effort grounded in leadership support, strategic planning and community impact.

• Learn more about the city's work on digital accessibility

The City of Boulder follows the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and will not discriminate against people on the basis of disability in its services, programs, activities or employment. As part of this commitment, we work closely with the Center for People with Disabilities, hold engagement events and continually work to improve our services and facilities.

The city is currently in the second year of a three-year ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan process, through which the city is systematically evaluating its programs, services, activities and built environment to identify and address barriers to accessibility.

• Learn more about the city's accessibility commitment
• Learn more about Access for All in Boulder

Some of the city’s area attractions work to ensure visitors of all abilities are able to enjoy themselves during their visit to the city.

• Celestial Seasonings offers wheelchairs and walkers for their factory tours.
• Chautauqua Park offers off-road wheelchairs for use so that everyone can enjoy the magic of Boulder’s Flatirons mountain trails or the outdoor picnic areas.
• The Boulder Creek path is a popular, 5.5-mile multi-use path running west to east across the heart of the city. It is scenic, mostly flat and includes key landmarks downtown such as the Main Library, Central Park/Civic Area and Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.
• Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder’s campus offers accessible seating options and allows credentialed service animals. They also offer FM systems and assisted listening devices to support those with hearing impairments.