The open-space buffer has a network of heavily used hiking and biking trails. Outdoor recreation is extremely popular in Colorado, particularly in Boulder. When ski season ends, kayaks are hauled out. Physical fitness is celebrated, too. On Memorial Day, more than 40,000 people participated in the annual Bolder Boulder 10-kilometer run through the city.
Boulder Creek is another natural feature that planners have incorporated into the city's identity.
Boulder Creek is bordered on both sides by fairly narrow bands of trees. On one side of the creek is a heavily used, paved trail for walkers, joggers, cyclists and skaters. The city's buses have racks on the front for bicycles. I rode the buses and found them efficient and comfortable. Many of the passengers apparently are members of the working class rather than the affluent segment of the population.