Tube to Work

A friend and former co-worker is starting the first (to my knowledge) tube-to-work day in Boulder this friday. Andy Gruel is also the manager of my kickball team, so I know he is a pretty smart and creative guy. But this might be his funniest idea yet.

Boulder Resident Starts "Tube to Work Day"

Daily Camera

On Friday, Boulder resident and environmental engineer Andy Gruel plans to wake up early, put on his suit and ride four miles to his office -- on an inner tube.

Gruel is sponsoring what he calls "Tube to Work Day," an alternative transportation event that will take several brave participants to work down a brisk, and crisp, Boulder Creek.

"My office is right off the Boulder Creek, so I've always envisioned some kind of alternative commute," said Gruel, 28.

Starting at 8 a.m., Gruel plans to jump into the creek fully clothed in business attire and travel from Eben G. Fine Park, 101 Arapahoe Ave., downstream to his 49th Street office.

"It's an alternative way to get to work," Gruel said. "We think it's one of these things that could take off."

In addition to just being fun, he said, it's also another way to celebrate Walk and Bike Month, which encourages alternative transportation.

Gruel has been handing out fliers asking people to meet at the park shelter nearthe creek just before start time. The event is "bring your own tube," he said, and business-formal attire is suggested for added effect.

He said he doesn't have a lot of great advice on what to do when people get out of the creek soaking wet, except that having a dry change of clothes at the office or bringing along a plastic bag might be good ideas.

"You've got to fend for yourself," Gruel said. "Bring some clothes on Thursday and leave them on the desk."

And, since the creek doesn't flow both directions, Gruel said there's another small kink in the plans still to be addressed.

"How the heck are we going to go home?"