The Regional Transportation District makes lives better through connections, whether that is connecting a customer with their final destination or the connections that happen with others on the system. To support all types of connections, RTD asks its customers to follow a set of behavioral guidelines called Respect the Ride.
Respect the Ride focuses on providing a safe, convenient, and enjoyable experience for all customers, while also discouraging disruptive or antisocial behaviors.
Respect the Ride supports RTD’s mission to make lives better through connections. In short, all that RTD asks is that customers respect others and be considerate of its employees.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Respect the Ride survey. We are currently analyzing public feedback. Please stay tuned for more information.
Overview of Standards
- Basic civility and respect are expected. Spitting, littering, indecent exposure, stealing, damaging RTD property, and other disorderly conduct are not allowed.
- Individuals are prohibited from impeding the safe boarding or exiting of other customers.
- It is illegal to avoid paying a fare, whether by skipping payment portals or using counterfeit fare.
- The use of illegal drugs and consumption of alcohol is prohibited. Smoking tobacco, including the use of electronic cigarettes, is not allowed on buses and trains or in RTD facilities.
- Selling goods or services is not allowed. This includes distributing handbills and flyers to customers.
- Other than service animals, animals and pets are prohibited on vehicles or in facilities. However, small pets in carriers are permitted.
- It is illegal to bring explosives, firearms, or other potentially dangerous objects on RTD’s vehicles or in facilities unless you have proper documentation.
- Playing music is permitted only if you use earbuds or headphones that prevent your music from bothering other customers.
- Food and drinks need to be stored in resealable containers.
- You must exit buses or trains once they have completed their routes.
Being respectful of other customers and considerate to RTD’s employees does not take more than common courtesy.
Proposed Amendments
In 2016, RTD’s Board of Directors approved the agency’s first-ever comprehensive list of rules and prohibited conduct on the transit system. In 2020, amendments to the Code of Conduct were drafted and approved for implementation.
Following an internal staff review that began in 2022, additional changes to the existing Customer Code of Conduct were identified and are now being proposed to the community for consideration. The latest round of revisions simplifies the existing guidelines and emphasizes respect for other customers, RTD’s vehicles, its facilities, and its employees. Read More.
ADA and Reasonable Accommodations
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), transportation entities, including RTD, are required to make reasonable modifications to their policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and to ensure that all programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Read More.
In accordance with this law, RTD will make every effort, to the maximum extent feasible, to ensure that a person with a disability has access to, and benefits from, its transit services. RTD will make reasonable modifications to its policies, programs, and procedures applicable to its transportation services when necessary to avoid discrimination and ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.
There may be certain situations when RTD’s policies and procedures do not achieve ADA objectives or accessibility. A modification to these policies and procedures may be needed to ensure that a customer with a disability has access to services.
Examples of reasonable modifications can be found on RTD’s Accessibility website. When making a reasonable modification for an individual with a disability, the modification is not intended to:
- cause a direct threat to the health and safety of others;
- create undue financial and administrative burdens;
- constitute a fundamental alteration to a service;
- be more than necessary to provide equal access to an RTD service.
Additional questions or concerns should be directed to RTD’s Division of Civil Rights, ADA Manager’s Office by emailing [email protected] or calling 303-299-2250 to submit a request for reasonable modifications.
A Welcoming Transit Environment
Community Outreach and Events

RTD has scheduled a number of outreach events and activities to engage with the community and solicit input about agency initiatives, including the proposed changes to Respect the Ride. A calendar of all RTD upcoming outreach events is available online. At upcoming events, RTD staff are available to answer questions.