The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“The guests are loving them…”
Two new street-legal electric shuttles are burning up the track this winter between the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area parking lot and the Outpost building. You’ll likely see them before you hear them—the shuttles hum along quietly as they transport up to 14 guests and their ski/snowboard equipment back and forth from their vehicles to the ski area.
The shuttles are outfitted with ski racks, studded snow tires, a safety beacon on top, seatbelts, and a stereo system that’s been pumping Christmas music for the holiday season. The town of Mt. Crested Butte purchased the two vehicles for $45,863, and is leasing them to the Mt. Crested Butte Town Center Community Association. Payments on the lease will be due quarterly over the next 36 months, starting March 1, 2010.
According to CBMR Guest Services and Adventure Park Manager John O’Neal, who also sells electric cars locally in Crested Butte, the vehicles will run up to eight hours on one charge and have more clearance than the shuttles they had last year. The shuttles typically operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 or 5 p.m., depending on how busy it is around the base area. When not making laps, the vehicles are stored in the Mountaineer Square garage.
Kirsten Texler, CBMR’s Public Relations and Communications Manager, said guests not only love how convenient the buses are—they also love the “green” factor.
A guest who is a photojournalist, with work in the New York Times and Financial Times, “Was more than pleased when one shuttle driver noticed him walking with his daughter from their lodge to the base one very chilly morning this week, and turned the shuttle around to pick them up ‘obviously not on her route,” Texler said. The effort she put forth was ‘just a matter of course’ to her, but made him feel like CBMR really cared about each guest. This great guest service comes not only from training, but from the very human nature of our locals. The shuttle driver said she had no idea who the man was, but would have done the same for any guest.”
O’Neal sang the shuttles’ praises and said their use won’t be limited to the winter season. “They seem sturdier than the ones from last year—more metal than fiberglass,” O’Neal said. “The guests are loving them. The Guest Services staff is driving them, typically for two-hour shifts. We hope to use them in the summer for festivals and other properties.”
