I'm often asked how I get to and from the office by bus. Here's about all the advice I can think of. See a map of the address here. .
First call the RTD number 303-299-6000 to get suggestions for your particular route. Say where you are starting from, where you are going, and what time you want to get there.
Or try the trip planner at http://www.rtd-denver.com/ . It probably runs the same software as the people who answer the phone.
You can then check out schedules at the RTD site http://www.rtd-denver.com/ . Pick up paper schedules on the buses or at the Civic Center or Market Station downtown. The stations also have a free map of all routes.
Do not bother to ask drivers for directions. Usually they don't know anything about other routes and their answers are often wrong. You'll have much better luck asking people sitting on the bus.
I will first discuss leaving the office, because you don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere.
My final destination is downtown, but your route will begin the same if you are heading north. The bus that stops in front of our office is the 403 bus, which travels both directions, more frequently during commuting hours. The 403 stops at the north-east corner of Lucent Boulevard and Plaza Drive about every half hour, shortly after the half hour.
You'll arrive at Mineral Station ten to twenty minutes later, depending on traffic, for light rail to downtown and other connections. If you are not going north of Colfax, you can catch any train with only a few minutes wait. I catch the C train to Union Station, and I wait an average of five minutes (10 minutes maximum). There are more D trains to downtown as C trains. Both lines takes about half an hour from one end of the line to the other.
If you leave the office really late, you can catch the route 0 bus once every half hour until after midnight. The 0 bus connects with light rail further north at the Englewood Station off Hampden. Walk east 15 minutes on Plaza Drive to Ridgeline Boulevard, before Broadway, where powerlines cross Plaza Drive. The 0 bus stop is on Ridgeline Boulevard, on the southeast corner with Plaza Drive, and northeast of Blue Point Drive.
It is unlikely, but the 402L may also be of use to you.
Use the same routes to go to the office. After getting off the train, cross the bridge over Santa Fe, turn to the right to the first bus stops past the newpaper stands.
The 403 leaves Mineral Station at about every half hour during comuting hours and once an hour during the middle of the day.
The light-rail schedule is very reliable, so you are unlikely to be later than expected for this connection. You should have less problem finding a D line train that arrives just five or ten minutes before the 403 leaves. (There are twice as many D's as C's.)
See the latest version of the local system map here.
The 403 bus is a local fare if you are staying on local buses, or do not take light rail past the Oxford Station. Request a free transfer ticket for your next connection. If you plan on taking the light rail to the Englewood Station or beyond, then pay an express fare and request an express transfer. Drivers do not give change, and you must buy light-rail tickets from a machine. If you take the 0 to Englewood and the light rail downtown from Englewood, then you need only pay a local fare.
You can buy books of prepaid tickets at about a 10 percent discount, or get a monthly pass at a bigger discount, as I do. The monthly pass costs about the same as 36 full fares, or 18 round trips. I pay for a monthly ticket even when I don't expect to break even because they are so much more convenient. You never have to worry about transfers or stamping your ticket. Tickets and passes are available at most King Soopers, and at Civic Center Station and Market Station downtown. The stations also have free schedules for all routes.
Most importantly, carry something to read. Pen and paper also come in handy. Keep schedules and a map in your bag.
If you are reading, avoid the front half of the first train car, which shakes much more.
If you miss your car radio, carry a small pocket receiver with earphones. It also makes it easier to ignore conversations.
Most bus riders overdress in winter. If you get onto the bus and everyone but you is wearing a heavy coat, then you probably should have checked the forecast. Carry a small umbrella or poncho in your bag or pocket.
Always look at the seat when you get up to leave. There's a good chance you left something.
The first time I took a bus in Denver, I waved at the driver as if I was flagging a taxi. The driver waved back and drove right on. She thought I was telling her NOT to stop. I know others who have had the same experience. If you want the bus to stop, stand facing the street next to the bus sign and get your fare ready. The driver will assume you are getting on unless you make some gesture to indicate otherwise.
Public transportation takes me about fifty minutes each way, between the office and downtown. Driving might take half as long, but driving would also be a total waste of time. When I drove, I arrived in a terrible mood. It took me at least another half hour at the office to calm down. Driving was the worst part of every day.
On the bus, I read a few technical books every month. I go through my plans for the day calmly, without fear of interruption. Often, I write or edit on paper. (Some use laptops.) I arrive at the office in an excellent mood and ready to dive in.
Don't worry about waiting in the snow. It's much warmer than scraping a windshield or walking to phone a tow truck. On the bus you can laugh with everyone else at the poor skills of unpaid drivers.
I hope you're not afraid of people you might meet on the bus. If so, you really need to get out more.
Bill Harlan.
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