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We make lives better through connections.

Providing convenient bus and rail service to the denver metro area, zero fare for youth:
 19 and under ride at no cost.

From September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024, Youth 19 and under can just hop on board *

RTD welcomes future transit users to experience the benefits of the transit system at no cost.

Zero Fare for Youth is a one-year pilot program that aims to enhance the lives of RTD customers and communities by reducing transportation costs for families. * ID confirming eligibility is required to ride.

That rail rebuild at 14th and Stout? It’s one of RTD’s most complex engineering feats

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3 Things to Know 2 29 2024

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Some positions eligible for $4,000 signing bonus.

Your next career is right here.

RTD values the service and skills developed during your military experience. Qualities like determination, team building, leadership and confidence will allow you to make a difference in your community as a member of our team.

• ¡Viva! Streets Denver
• Front Range Passenger Rail
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• Board of Directors
• 2022 Fare Study
• System Optimization Plan
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• Downtown Bus Plan
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How to Ride RTD

GDT > RTD Rider’s Guide > How to Ride

Planning Your Trip

There are a number of ways to plan a journey using RTD’s buses and trains.

Greater Denver Transit recommends using the Transit app to help navigate and pay for your trip. Upon launching the app, riders see nearby options and departure times in big text and bright colors. Users can easily navigate the region, aided by accurate real-time bus ETAs, trip planning, step-by-step navigation, and crowdsourced real-time information with Transit’s GO feature.

Trip Planners

Trip planners such as the RTD NextRide , Transit and Google Maps apps all contain easy to use transit trip planners that allow you to enter your origin, destination and preferred day / time to get information on the fastest way to get there on transit.

Maps and Schedules

Maps Easy to read maps of the entire RTD System.

Schedules A guide to RTD schedules & how get to places.

Maps and schedules display all the transit options available in an area. They are well suited to riders who already know a bit about the service in a particular area.

Live Bus and Train Tracking

Buses and trains may be tracked in real time, the RTD NextRide , Transit and Google Maps apps.

Purchasing Tickets

RTD tickets may be purchased in 3 ways:

• Using MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ stored value.
• Mobile tickets.
• Paper tickets.
• Cash (accepted on local buses only).

Because it includes fare capping, Greater Denver Transit recommends you use MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ stored value to ensure you always pay the best rate for your RTD trips.

Using any other ticket purchase method means you could pay more!

MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ Top-up

MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ is a stored value payment system where the appropriate cost of the ticket is deducted from your account every time you tap to ride a bus or train. This method also uses fare capping, which automatically ensures you pay the best rate your RTD trips over both a daily and monthly period. Click here for more about fare capping.

MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ balance can be topped up with a credit / debit card by using the MyRide Website or the RTD MyRide app. To ride, a ‘token’ must be set up in the account. This can either be an app-based MyRide barcode or a physical MyRide card ordered for free from RTD.

Mobile Ticket Purchase

Mobile tickets can purchased with a credit / debit card by using the MyRide Website or the RTD MyRide , Transit , Uber and Lyft apps. They need to be activated in the app before travel. Click here for a guide to RTD’s fares.

Paper Tickets

Paper tickets may be purchased at ticket vending machines, located at all stations. Simply select the ticket type and ticket to purchase with a credit / debit card or cash. Click here for a guide to RTD’s fares.

If the paper ticket does not has a clear expiry date and time printed on it, it will need to be validated before travel on a train. Simply insert it into one of the paper ticket validators located at the station. 3 hour passes will expire 3 hours after the date / time stamped on them, day passes will expire at 2:59am the following day.

Boarding Your Bus

It is always recommended you arrive at the bus stop a few minutes before departure. Although buses generally stick to a schedule and RTD forbids operators to run early, there is a chance yours could come a minute or so before its scheduled departure time.

Wave for the bus to stop as it approaches. If the bus is already slowing down or has it’s right blinker on, you don’t need to wave. However, some buses won’t stop if they don’t have anyone to let off, so you need to make it clear that you’re waiting. As you see your bus, give the driver a wave so they know you want to get on.

When the bus stops, yield to riders coming off the bus. Look out for wheelchair and mobility device users as they will need extra time to get deboard.

MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ users travelling on buses will need to validate their app-based MyRide barcode or physical MyRide card using a ‘Smart’ validator, which is installed at the front of the bus. This deducts the correct value from the MyRide balance.

Provided the ticket doesn’t change (e.g. standard to airport), any further taps within a 3 hour period will not result in any further funds being deducted from the MyRide balance.

If you have a paper ticket, simply show it to the operator. You can also pay by cash by feeding bills and coins into the fare box. If you plan to board a 2nd bus or train within 3 hours, ask the operator for a receipt.

Boarding Your Train

MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ users travelling on trains will need to validate their app-based MyRide barcode or physical MyRide card using a ‘Smart’ validator, located at all stations. Press the Select Fare button once for an airport fare as necessary. This deducts the correct value from the MyRide balance.

When the train arrives, board from any door and take a seat. Note that light rail “high blocks”, located by the front of the train, are only to be used by riders with wheelchairs or mobility devices.