How to Ride the Bus

Step 1 - Find RTD Information

Online

Plan your trip using our Trip Planner, find stops and stations using our system map, buy passes, find route, schedule and fare information and look for information about all fare products, programs and services here on rtd-denver.com.

Plan a trip using the Trip Planner
Look up schedules and route information
Find stops and stations with the system map
Learn how to purchase RTD passes and fares

By Telephone

Call Customer Care for complete bus and rail information. You can reach Customer Care at 303-299-6000. The TTY phone number for speech and hearing impaired is Dial: 711. Customer Care is open Monday–Friday from 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and weekends/holidays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

In Person

Visit a transit station to pick up schedules, system maps, passes and ticket books or talk to a Customer Service Representative:

• Union Station Bus Concourse at 17th and Chestnut in Denver
• Civic Center Station at 16th and Broadway in Denver
• Boulder Junction at Depot Square Station at 33rd and Pearl Parkway in Boulder
• Downtown Boulder Station at 14th and Walnut in Boulder
• RTD Sales Counter at Denver International Airport at the Denver Airport Station, Level 1
  View Map of Denver Airport Station on Level 1

You can also pick up schedules are the following locations where Customer Service Representatives are not available:

• RTD Administration Building
  1660 Blake Street, Denver
• RTD District Shops
  1900 31st Street Denver
• On buses and trains

Step 2 - Plan your Trip

Schedules may look complicated, but once you become familiar with them, they're really quite easy.

Here's what you'll find on a schedule:

• Route number
• Route name
• List of major destinations (printed schedules only)
• Route map with major streets and destinations
• Departure and arrival times for major stops along the route, based on direction of travel and day of the week

Tips for reading a schedule

1. Determine the direction of travel and day of the week.
2. Find the intersection closest to where you want to catch the bus. The bus usually makes stops between the major intersections listed on the schedule.
3. Look down the column under that intersection to find departure times from that stop.
4. Times are listed without using colons. So "426" means "4:26." Look for an "A" or a "P" to indicate AM or PM.
5. Find the intersection closest to your destination.
6. Read horizontally along the line that lists your departure time to determine when you will arrive at your destination. If no arrival time or (—) is shown, then that particular bus does not stop there. Look at the lines above and below for a bus that does make that stop.
7. To plan your return trip, look at the reverse direction of travel on the opposite side of the printed schedule and follow these same steps.

Tips for using online schedules

Find schedules online using the 'Schedules' navigation menu or the 'Schedule Finder' tool in the toolbar. Online schedules can be collapsed to reduce a schedule with hundreds of timepoints down to as few as four timepoints chosen by you. You also have the options to download or print your customized schedule.

Step 3 - Find your Bus Stop

Some bus stops have shelters, many bus stops have benches, and all bus stops are marked by a red and white sign that lists all routes that stop at that location, as well as the stop number.

Step 4 - Verify your Route and Board the Bus

When you see a bus approaching, look at the destination sign above the front windshield to verify the route number. To let the bus driver know you want to board, please stand and wait near the curb at the designated bus stop.

Step 5 - Pay your Fare

Cash

The driver will not make change, so please pay with exact change.

• Have your money ready before you board.
• Insert your money in the fare box next to the driver as you board.
• During weekday afternoon rush hours between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., boarding times are extremely short at the Union Station Bus Concourse, Civic Center and I-25 & Broadway stations. When riding some express and Regional routes leaving these stations, pay as you exit the bus.

10-Ride Ticket book

Tear out one ticket and insert it into the fare box, as you would cash, when you board.

Pass

Clearly show your pass to the driver as you board.

Smart Card

Tap your Smart Card on the Smart Card reader next to the driver. If you need to downgrade your fare from the route's default fare level, let the driver know before you tap.

Transfers

If you are transferring from another RTD service, use a 3-Hour Pass as credit towards your bus fare.

Step 6 - Get off at your Stop

Stay alert so you know when your stop is approaching. If you're not sure when to get off the bus, sit close to the front and ask the driver to call out your stop.

Signal the driver you want to get off the bus about one block before you reach your stop. Depending on the type of bus you're riding, you can signal the driver by one of the following methods:

• Pulling the cord that runs above the windows.
• Pressing the yellow strip to the side of the windows.
• Pushing the button on the ceiling of the bus above your seat

The "Stop Requested" sign at the front of the bus will light up when you have activated the signal. When the bus stops, exit through the rear door if the bus has two doors. Wait until the bus pulls away so you can see traffic clearly before crossing the street. Do not cross in front of the bus.