Gonna give public transit a try during free-fare August? Here are some tips for a smooth ride - Colorado Public Radio

Ebikes still aren’t allowed on RTD vehicles, though officials said this week that a change to that policy could be coming soon. 

5. Stay safe

Safety problems on public transit are quite real.RTD documented nearly 180 assaults or injuries in 2021 and the first two months of 2022, KDVR reported in April. But your experience will likely depend on which route you’re on. For example: Just two lines — the No. 15 and No. 15L lines on East Colfax, which are also among the most heavily used — accounted for more than a third of those reports. 

RTD’s Transit Watch app for iOS and Android makes it easy to report any issues you see. 

6. Expect an imperfect experience

“I hope all of the buses and trains come on time and everything is a delight, yet the reality is our transit system isn't perfect right now,” tweeted local transit buff Molly McKinley, who’s also the policy director for the Denver Streets Partnership. 

She wants riders to tell their elected officials about their experiences — and to thank their driver, too. 

“So, expect the imperfect, take action instead of complaining about it on twitter (or at least in addition to), and be a human in one of the few spaces that still really exist where you're so obviously part of a bigger world with other people with so many different experiences,” she wrote. 

7. Go explore your city and region

Did you know that you can get to some pretty great hiking trails via RTD and other public transit services? A coalition of Denver-area environmental, progressive and business groups has also put together a list of other destinations reachable by public transit.

More than 30 other public transit agencies across the state are also offering free fares in August, including:

• Durango Transit
• Greeley Evans Transit
• Colorado Springs’ Mountain Metro Transit
• Pueblo Transit
• Fort Collins’ Transfort

Some agencies (though not RTD) are also expanding their services in August, said a press release from the Colorado Association of State Transit Agencies. And Bustang, the state Department of Transportation’s statewide bus service, is offering a 50 percent discount through Sept. 5. 

8. Tell me about your ride

You can email me your story or tell me about it on Twitter.

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Gonna give public transit a try during free-fare August? Here are some tips for a smooth ride - Colorado Public Radio
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