Whether you’re commuting from Denver to Boulder, or going for a fun afternoon activity, there are multiple ways to get there. From riding the bus, riding your bike, or taking a carshare ride, you can travel along US 36 more sustainably!
Riding Your Bike Along the US 36 Bikeway
If you want to op-out of taking your car, another great option is a longer bike ride! Cycling to work is one of the most powerful ways to positively impact our region’s traffic congestion and air quality.
It’s never been easier with resources such as the US 36 Bikeway and the Bike Northwest Interactive Map!
Before you hit the road, follow these tips:
- Map your route – map your route then trace those steps as a pedestrian or in a car.
- Gear up – Set yourself up for success and enjoy your ride with the proper gear! Head to your local bicycle shop where employees can help you pick the perfect gear.
- Safety – Learn the proper hand signals and how your helmet should fit before hitting the road.
- Find a safe place for your bike – Ensure there is a bike rack you can use once you reach the office or be able to store it inside the building.
Combining Bicycling and Public Transit Along US 36
Want to use both your bicycle and public transportation? Bike-n-Ride Shelters at RTD stations can help you achieve your goal!
Bike-n-Ride Shelters provide long-term, secure and weather-protected bicycle storage for commuters making connections to and from local or regional transit routes. The Bike-n-Ride program makes it easy to combine bus trips and bike rides by using the shelter to complete the first or final mile of your commute.
To use a shelter, visit Commuting Solutions’ Bike-n-Ride webpage to apply today!
Along the US 36 corridor, there are multiple Bike-n-Ride Shelters:
- Broomfield (Westbound US 36 & Broomfield) OPENS 2021
- Westminster (Eastbound US 36 & Sheridan) OPENS 2021
- Superior (US 36 & Eastbound McCaslin)
- Louisville (US 36 & Westbound McCaslin)
- Hover Street & Highway 119/Diagonal in Longmont
- 30th Street & Diagonal Hwy, North Boulder
- 8th & Coffman, downtown Longmont
- US 36 & Table Mesa Station (near gate C)
- Downtown Boulder Station – Walnut and 14th Street
Take the Flatiron Flyer
If you prefer to sit back and enjoy the scenery, or get some work done, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) has you covered!
RTD’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, the Flatiron Flyer is the first BRT to connect Denver with the northwest metro region’s businesses, federal institutions and the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Riders have access to downtown Boulder, downtown Denver, the Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver International Airport and many more connections!
The Flatiron Flyer offers commuters a reliable ride every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 15 minutes off-peak, Monday through Friday. On the weekends, the Flatiron Flyer offers commuters a reliable ride every 15 minutes during peak hours on Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday.
The 2021 Flatiron Flyer fares are:
- $3 for a local three-hour pass
- $5.25 for a regional three-hour pass
- All trip fares can be calculated online with RTD
Flatiron Flyer Routes include:
- Route FF1 – travels between Union Station and Downtown Boulder station.
- Route FF3 – Travels from Broomfield to Union Station with stops at US 36 & Church Ranch Station and US 36 & Sheridan Station.
- Route FF5 – Downtown Boulder Station to Anschutz
Currently, Routes FF2, FF4, FF6 and FF7 are suspended.
Using RTD’s Trip Planner also allows riders to plan their trips and provides real-time updates on the services.
Sharing Your Route
Whether you’re driving your car, being picked up by your co-worker, sitting in a van or using an app to order your ride, there are multiple options to get from home to work.
Carpool allows you to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the northwest metro region! Carpooling not only benefits the environment but benefits you! Sharing a ride saves you time, money and reduces stress.
Resources such as MyWaytoGo.org can help you find registered users who are part of an existing pool or looking for a carpool buddy. More than 10,000 people are currently registered!
Vanpools are the perfect commute option for commuters who travel more than 15 miles to work one-way. Passengers share the ride in a van, which can seat up to 15 people, and pay a monthly fee that covers the cost of fuel, insurance and vehicle maintenance.
Vanpools help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and allows the riders to ride the US 36 Express Lanes for free!
Resources such as MyWayToGo.org can help you find registered users who are part of a pool or looking for a buddy! My Way to Go Vanpools operate through Commute with Enterprise.
If you’re ordering your ride through a mobile app with Uber or Lyft both allow riders to reduce costs and carbon emissions by sharing a ride with someone going the same direction.
Uber POOL provides riders a carpooling service which helps reduce the cost of travel as well as carbon emissions by sharing a ride.
If you want to use a car, but don’t own one, an option is to use a car-share service!
Colorado Carshare is a local 501(c)(3) car-sharing organization which provides alternatives to individual car ownership.
Incentives to Commuting
Did you know there are incentives to commuting with others? Check out Commuting Solutions’ blog post about commuter benefits, transit benefits!
Resources:
RTD’s fare calculator
RTD’s Flatiron Flyer
FF1 Schedule
FF3 Schedule
FF5 Schedule
US 36 Bikeway
Bike-n-Ride Shelters
Boulder County Bike Map
Denver Bike Map
MyWaytoGo.org
Commute with Enterprise
Innovations in Transportation