AT ISSUE: RTD driver was following bike-on-bus policy
Lee Kemp
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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The Speakout column regarding the Regional Transportation District's bike-n-Ride program requires a response ("Earth Day cyclist unwelcome on bus," May 7). RTD provides every possible opportunity for passengers with bikes to ride our buses and light rail trains.
All RTD buses (except the 16th Street Free Mall Ride) are equipped with bike racks that carry up to two bikes. Passengers may use these racks free on a first-come, first-served basis, and no permit is required. To take a bike on light rail, passengers need to obtain a free bike permit to be certain they are familiar with boarding procedures. The free light rail bike permits are available online at RTD-Denver.com and at the Market Street and Civic Center stations.
When the bus bike racks are full, bikes are allowed inside a bus during nonpeak times, if the next bus is more than an hour away or if the bus operator is reasonably certain that the passenger load is light enough to accommodate a bike. In the instance cited, the bus operator was properly following procedures by not allowing additional bikes on board once the bike rack was full.
Bike lockers are also provided at park-n-Rides, light rail stations and transit stations. Bike lockers can be used by anyone once they have signed a renewable six-month locker agreement and purchased a $20 RTD-issued padlock. Bike racks are also available at many park-n-Rides. As the FasTracks program is completed, additional bike paths will likely be integrated with the new transit corridors, and RTD will also expand the availability of bike lockers and bike racks.
RTD strives to accommodate all modes of transportation and we are proud of bike-n-Ride, which helps our riding public use their bikes as part of the daily commute.
Lee Kemp is chairman of the board of directors of the Regional Transportation District.
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May 14, 2008
11:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
SASQUATCH writes:
You mean that bicycles aren't higher-up than people on the RTD pecking order? Whatsupwiththat? Where's RTD's sense of priorities?