A 20-mile stretch of highway might not seem important to some, but the communities of Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville and Superior rely on it for jobs, food, health care, entertainment and education. The US 36 corridor connects those communities to downtown Denver and Boulder, where people work, shop and play. It is one of the most important corridors in the Denver metro area.  

As more people emerge from the pandemic in search of a new normal, Louisville-based nonprofit Commuting Solutions has teamed up with RTD and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to get people out of the car and onto the bus. The Flatiron Flyer Ridership Challenge, which extends through July 31, invites customers from the Boulder/Denver region to skip car traffic for a cleaner, more sustainable transportation option via RTD’s Flatiron Flyer (FF) routes. Additionally, the Flatiron Flyer routes can operate in the US 36 express lanes to avoid traffic jams and provide a smooth and speedy ride.  

The challenge is funded by a CDOT grant to encourage riders to explore the financial and environmental benefits of bus rapid transit (BRT). It is estimated that by switching from driving a car to riding the bus commuting five times a week, more than 100 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions can be saved each week. Other benefits include saving thousands of dollars at the pump and reducing wear and tear on personal vehicles.  

Customers are encouraged to take one of the various FF routes to wherever they need to go, whether it be to downtown Boulder to enjoy some shopping on the Pearl Street Mall, to a class at the University of Colorado, to the office for a hybrid work week in downtown Denver, or to simply enjoy the many parks and communities along the US 36 corridor. Many stations along the routes have park-n-rides, where customers can park their vehicles to catch the bus. Customers can log their trips via the Denver Regional Council of Government (DRCOG)’s My Way to Go commuting platform for a chance to win a $150 Amazon gift card.  

During the challenge, Commuting Solutions will provide free RTD Regional/Airport Day Pass tickets to first-time Flatiron Flyer customers who send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Regional/Airport Day Pass.” For more information on the challenge, visit the Commuting Solutions website.