How to Ride the Bus

STEP 1: Find RTD information.
There are five easy ways to find RTD information:

Online
Plan your trip using our Trip Planner, find stops and stations using our system map, buy passes, find route, schedule and fare information and look for information about all fare products, programs and services here on RTD-Denver.com.

By Telephone
Call the Telephone Information Center (TIC) for complete bus and light rail information. You can reach the TIC at 303.299.6000 (Outside Denver/Boulder: 800.366.7433). The TTD phone number for speech and hearing impaired is 303.299.6089. The TIC is open Monday-Friday from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Weekends/Holidays from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

In Person
Visit a transit station to pick up schedules, system maps, passes and ticketbooks or talk to a Customer Service Representative:

• Market Street Station at 16th and Market in Denver
  
• Civic Center Station at 16th and Broadway in Denver
  
• Boulder Transit Center at 14th and Walnut in Boulder
• RTD Sales Counter at DIA in the West Terminal, Level 5

You can also pick up schedules are the following locations, but Customer Service Representatives are not available:

• RTD Administration Building
  
          1600 Blake Street Denver, CO 80202

• RTD District Shops
  
          1900 31st Street Denver, CO 80216

• On buses and the light rail

Interactive kiosks
Locate the blue-colored kiosks around the Denver metro area to check route and schedule information, view maps, get information on RTD programs and services, and plan your trip using our online Trip Planner.

STEP 2: Plan your trip using an RTD schedule.
Schedules may look complicated, but once you become familiar with them, they're really quite easy.

Here's what you'll find on a schedule:

• Route number
• Route name
• List of major destinations (printed schedules only)
  
• Route map with major streets and destinations
• Departure and arrival times for major stops along the route, based on direction of travel and day of the week
  

Tips for reading a schedule

1. Open the schedule and locate the direction of travel and day of the week.
2. Find the intersection closest to where you want to catch the bus. The bus usually makes stops between the major intersections listed on the schedule.
3. Look down the column under that intersection to find departure times from that stop.
4. Times are listed without using colons. So "426" means "4:26." Look for an "A" or a "P" to indicate AM or PM.
5. Find the intersection closest to your destination.
6. Read horizontally along the line that lists your departure time to determine when you will arrive at your destination. If no arrival time or (—) is shown, then that particular bus does not stop there. Look at the lines above and below for a bus that does make that stop.
7. To plan your return trip, look at the reverse direction of travel on the opposite side of the printed schedule and follow these same steps.

Online schedule tips

Find your schedule online under Schedules found on the upper left-hand corner of the website, or quickly jump to your schedule using the Schedule Finder located along the right-hand side of every webpage. Online schedules can be collapsed to reduce a schedule with hundreds of timepoints down to as few as four timepoints chosen by you. You also have the options to download or print your customized schedule.

Tip: Use RTD's mobile website, m.RTD-Denver.com, to find route and schedule information when you're on the go.

STEP 3: Find your bus stop.
All bus stop signs are red and white and list all routes that stop at that location. Bus stops are generally located every few blocks along Local bus routes. Express and Limited route stops are located farther apart.

Hint: On many routes, the stop for your return trip will be located across the street from the stop where you boarded the bus.

STEP 4: Verify your route and board the bus.
When you see a bus approaching, look at the electronic destination sign above the front windshield to verify the route number. To let the bus driver know you want to board, please stand and wait near the curb at the designated bus stop.

STEP 5: Pay your fare.
RTD offers a number of ways to pay your bus fare:

Cash
Exact change must be used when paying with cash. The driver will not make change.

• Have your money ready before you board.
• Insert your money in the fare box next to the driver as you board.
• During weekday afternoon rush hours between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., boarding times are extremely short at the Market Street, Civic Center and I-25 & Broadway stations. When riding Express and Regional routes leaving these stations, pay as you exit the bus.

10-Ride Ticketbook
Tear out one ticket and insert it into the fare box, as you would cash, when you board.

Pass
Clearly show your pass to the driver as you board.

Tokens
You may also use RTD tokens as bus and light rail fare payment. Tokens may be purchased in denominations of 25¢ from all RTD sales outlets, King Soopers or Safeway stores.

Transfers
If you are transferring from another RTD service, use a transfer as credit towards your bus fare. Learn how to transfer.

STEP 6: Get off at your stop.
Stay alert so you know when your stop is approaching. If you're not sure when to get off the bus, sit close to the front and ask the driver to call out your stop.

Signal the driver you want to get off the bus about one block before you reach your stop. Depending on the type of bus you're riding, you can signal the driver by one of the following methods:

• Pulling the cord that runs above the windows.
• Pressing the yellow strip to the side of the windows.
• Pushing the button on the ceiling of the bus above your seat
  

The "Stop Requested" sign at the front of the bus will light up when you have activated the signal. When the bus stops, exit through the rear door if the bus has two doors. Wait until the bus pulls away so you can see traffic clearly before crossing the street. Do not cross in front of the bus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the holiday schedule?
Buses and light rail operate 365 days a year. However, buses follow the Sunday/holiday schedule on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Light rail follows its weekend schedule on these same holidays.

How do I transfer from bus to bus?
After you pay a cash fare on the first bus, ask the driver for a "transfer". This is a paper receipt that will allow you to get on the second bus. Drivers issue transfers only at the time of payment, so be sure to ask when you first board. Transfers are valid for one hour from the time your first bus arrives at the end of the line. Check your transfer for the actual expiration time.

When you board the second bus, give the driver your transfer. If you expect to transfer to a third bus or train, ask the driver to return your transfer after it has been inspected.

If you are boarding the same type of bus (Local to Local, for example), you do not have to pay an additional fare.

If you are boarding a different type of bus (Local to Express, for example), you may use your transfer as a credit toward the more expensive fare. You will then need to pay the difference.

Get more information on how to transfer.

What are X, Y and Z bus stops?
In Downtown Denver, Local and Limited buses only stop on every third block — signified by either X, Y or Z—on 15th and 17th streets. Your bus schedule will state whether your bus serves the X, Y or Z stops. View a PDF map of X, Y and Z stops in Downtown Denver.

Why is my boarding stop not listed on the schedule?
Schedules list only major stops on a route. There may be many other stops along the way. If your stop is between locations listed on the schedule, you'll need to estimate the arrival time of the bus or call 303.299.6000 for specific times. Plan to arrive at least five minutes early.