This photo made available on Jan. 23, 2015, by University of Colorado Health, shows a Poudre Valley Hospital ambulance fitted with a bike rack, in Fort Collins, Colo. In a testament to how much the city loves its bikes, the hospital has installed bike racks on its ambulances after encountering increasing numbers of cyclists who had bicycle accidents or medical emergencies. (AP Photo/University of Colorado Health, Kelly Tracer)
January 23, 2015 - 10:21 AM
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - In a testament to how much one Colorado city loves its bikes, cyclists who need to go to the hospital no longer have to leave their rides behind.
Poudre (POO'-dur) Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, home of Colorado State University, has equipped all 14 of its ambulances with bike racks after encountering increasing numbers of cyclists who had bicycle accidents or medical emergencies.
Hospital officials say some people were reluctant to leave behind their bikes, which can cost more than some cars and can be their main form of transportation. Plus, ambulance workers were spending too much time going back to unlock the bikes once patients could retrieve them.
The Coloradoan (http://noconow.co/1yrpUyE ) reported Friday that the hospital spent about $5,000 to install the racks, or $356 per ambulance.
News from © The Associated Press, 2015