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. local to regional), 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 a regional fare or twice for an airport fare as necessary. This deducts the correct value from the MyRide balance.
Provided the ticket doesn’t change (e.g. local to regional), any further taps within a 3 hour period will not result in any further funds being deducted 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.