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.
Being respectful of other customers and considerate to RTD’s employees does not take more than common courtesy.
PURPOSE:
RTD strives to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and has equal access to transportation. In order to provide for the safety, convenience, and comfort of all persons, RTD has established this Code of Conduct (Code) setting forth rules prohibiting certain conduct that may adversely affect use, operation, or occupancy of RTD vehicles (including RTD buses, Access-a-Ride vehicles, FlexRide vehicles, light rail vehicles, and commuter rail vehicles), facilities (including bus and rail stations, parking facilities, bus stops, bus shelters, plazas and fountains, and administrative, operational, and maintenance facilities), or property.
Prior to enforcement, RTD will make every attempt to first educate a person on conduct prohibited by this Code. However, any person who engages in prohibited conduct may be subject to enforcement ranging from a verbal or written warning, immediate suspension, or a criminal citation (see Section 5: “Enforcement”).
Conduct prohibited by this Code is subject to reasonable modification under the Americans with Disabilities Act (see Section 4: “The ADA and Reasonable Modification”).
Authority:
This Code of Conduct was initially approved on December 20, 2016, by RTD’s Board of Directors and thereafter amended on July 21, 2020, and June 27, 2023.
Prohibited Conduct:
Respect the Ride focuses on providing a safe, convenient, and enjoyable experience for all customers, while also discouraging disruptive or antisocial behaviors. Individuals are prohibited from committing, attempting to commit, or assisting any other person or combination of persons to commit, the following acts or behaviors in or on any RTD vehicle, facility, or property.
The ADA and Reasonable Modification:
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), transportation entities are required to make reasonable modifications to their policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities. In accordance with this directive, 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 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/accessibility. A modification to these policies and procedures may be needed to ensure that a passenger with a disability has access to our services.
Examples of reasonable modification can be found on RTD’s website under Accessibility. 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.
Any questions or concerns on reasonable modification should be directed to RTD’s Division of Civil Rights, ADA Managers Office: 303-299-2221.
Enforcement:
RTD will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in the administration of this Code of Conduct.
If violations of this Code of Conduct appear or are claimed to be caused by a disability, RTD personnel are to contact Dispatch or Security for advice and assistance.
Enforcement will be conducted in a fair and reasonable manner. A person who engages in any of the above prohibited conduct (Section III) may be warned and/or ordered to immediately exit the RTD vehicle, facility, or property by a law enforcement officer, an RTD Transit Security Officer, an RTD Bus/Light Rail/Commuter Rail Line Supervisor, or other authorized RTD personnel. Such personnel are authorized to issue an order to the person to exit RTD property for up to the remainder of the service day.
Situations where a person refuses to leave an RTD vehicle, facility, or property after being ordered to do so may be considered trespassing and may be referred to law enforcement personnel.
A person who engages in any of the above prohibited conduct may also, or instead, be issued a suspension by RTD, suspending the person from all RTD vehicles, properties, and services for a determined amount of time pursuant to RTD’s Service Suspension policy and procedures.
A person ordered to leave or suspended from RTD property will not be entitled to any refund of unused fare media that may expire during the time of the person’s exclusion.
Suspension or orders to exit RTD property may be appealed pursuant to RTD’s Service Suspension policy and procedures.
In addition to any other enforcement under this Code, riding an RTD vehicle without evidence that the proper fare has been paid may be treated in accordance with Colorado Traffic Code, C.R.S. § 42-4- 1416.
In addition to any other enforcement under this Code, illegal activity may result in a citation under any applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance, including C.R.S. § 18-9-114 - Hindering Transportation (Class 2 Misdemeanor), and C.R.S. § 18-9-115 - Endangering Public Transportation and Utility Transmission (Class 3 Felony).
This Code of Conduct does not seek to limit, replace, or conflict with any federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance and does not limit or prevent any law enforcement agency or entity from taking any lawful action against any person in or on any RTD vehicle, facility, or property.