RTD Rider Appreciation Day at Park-n-Rides in Westminster

Thursday, Sept. 4, 6:30-8:30 am
Church Ranch Park-n-Ride
10452 Town Center Drive
Westminster
Bus: 104, BF, BV, DD

Friday, Sept. 5, 6:30-8:30 am
Westminster Park-n-Ride
5025 W. 88th Place
Westminster
Bus: 86X, AB, ABA, BF, BV, DD, DM, L, S, T
(The 31, 51, 92, 100, and 104 stop across the highway. There is a pedestrian bridge that connects the local buses to the buses headed north.)

Larry Hoy represents this area on the RTD board, and he will be on hand along with RTD employees and people from US 36 Solutions to get feedback about how RTD can do better and give out schedule and route information.

You can get a morning snack as a thank you for taking the bus.

The Power of We for Better Bus Service

What of the issues that I come across when working on transit issues is the belief that bus riders should not work together to figure out what system will best serve their needs. We should complain rather than attempting to offer constructive criticism. We should allow the senior staff of the local bus system to evaluate those complaints and not compare notes. We allow those staff to tell us how our problems should be solved and which are most serious.

This is the wrong attitude. Our local bus system needs our input. We, the bus riders, know what works and what doesn't. We, the light rail riders, know what keeps us safe and what doesn't. We know what buses are crowded. We know sources of funding that RTD is not going after.

I am hoping that we can come this Thursday near the Englewood light rail station to listen to each other's idea and to support the best ones.

Public Meetings for West Line Bus Service are Finally Here

Monday, April 16 at 7 pm
Jefferson County Justice Center
100 Jefferson Parkway
Golden
Bus: None (The 17 stops running too early to help.)

Wednesday, April 18 at 7pm
Clements Community Center
1580 Yarrow Street
Lakewood
Bus: One block from the 16 and 16L (Also in walking distance from the 20 and 76.)

Thursday, April 19 at 7 pm
Bear Creek Elementary School
9601 W. Dartmouth Place
Lakewood
Bus: None

Saturday, April 21 at 10 am
Hadley Branch Library
1890 S. Grove Street
Denver
Bus: 30, 31

Saturday, April 21 at 2 pm
Blair-Caldwell Library
2401 Welton
Denver
Bus: 38
Light Rail: D

Wednesday, April 25 at noon
RTD Administrative Offices
1600 Blake
Denver
Bus: free mall shuttle, any buses that go to Market Street Station

Wednesday, April 25 at 6 pm
Conifer High School
10441 County Highway 73
Conifer
Bus: None. ES might work but there is long walk from the bus stop, and you may have to leave the meeting early even if the bus runs by this location both ways in the evening.

Saturday, April 28 at 10:30 am
Evergreen Public Library
5000 Highway 73
Evergreen
Bus: None

So the opportunity for public comment on bus service is finally here, and half of the public meetings are in locations or at times when there is no bus service. Does anyone know why RTD does not consider bus riders to be stakeholders.

Possible Bus Riders Union in Denver?

Someone else is also organizing around issues of service cuts and harassment of bus riders. Veronica Garcia is hosting the following meeting:

Making the Case: The People of Denver vs. RTD
Thursday, February 16 at 6 pm
Colorado Progressive Coalition Conference Room
1029 Santa Fe, Denver
Bus: 1, 9
Also within walking distance of the 16 and the 10th and Osage light rail station. I have been advised that if you are walking back late, walk in a small group. Hopefully, this will not be a problem coming from a transit users meeting.

Daniel Kim of LA's Labor Community/Strategy Center will talk a little about the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union and will screen a short documentary about their efforts followed by a Q & A session.