RTD Partnership Program co-sponsors Veo first mile at no cost to two stations

Veo scooters and e-bikes provide customers with a first mile free transit option to the University of Denver and Knox stations; an example of how RTD funds innovative micromobility options in its service area

Veo micromobility devices, including scooters and e-bikes,now offer RTD customers a no-cost first-mile connection to select transit stations when devices are also returned to designated zones at participating RTD stations in Denver.

Through the RTD Partnership Program, customers travel the first mile on a Veo device to the University of Denver or Knox stations at no cost, including the unlock fee. The service encourages customers to use a variety of public transit and shared mobility options to reach their destinations.The micromobility incentive pilot was made possible through the program’s funding, providing$122,554 in funding in support of the pilot program that launched in September and will run through December 2027.

The First Mile Free pilot resulted from an application to the Partnership Program in 2025. “The First Mile Free program is an example of how the Partnership Program helps fund innovative pilots to improve access and mobility throughout the RTD service area,” said RTD Partnership Program Administrator Cory Schmitt. The West Corridor Transit Management Association (TMA) applied for funding for the University of Denver station and, originally, the Decatur•Federal station. However, upon further evaluation, the Knox station served by the W Line was chosen instead.

A longstanding challenge with shared scooters and e-bikes across the metro area has been devices left outside designated drop-off areas, such as sidewalks.At RTD, this has also included station platforms and other areas within customer rights of way.Returning scooters and e-bikes to the designated bike racks at stations ensures the customer’s first-mile discount applies.

“As exciting as the subsidy is for customers to be able to use the scooters with a discount is the incentive to keep station platforms and walkways clear,” Schmitt said. “To access the first mile free, the user must park the scooter in a geofenced zone which is centered on the existing bike racks at both stations.” 

Billing for a trip will not end until a customer returns the Veo to its designated location at the station to deter haphazard parking. “This improves the operating environment and customer experience by keeping a station clear of scooters,” Schmitt added.

RTD anticipates opening the next Call for Projects during the second quarter of 2027. Both new and existing program sponsors will be eligible to apply for Partnership Program funding to launch or expand transit services or other innovative mobility projects within the service area.

This year, RTD allocated the most funding for the Partnership Program since the first Call for Projects in 2023, offering $6 million in funding, to help TMAs and TMOs deliver local micromobility options in their communities.

To learn more about eligibility requirements, visit RTD’s Partnership Program page.