Y: Limited service, unlimited activites

What are you doing this Friday at 6:30am? Sleeping? Well, if the word rest isn't part of your vocabulary, catch the early Y route to Lyons. After heading northwest on Highway 36, wake those tired eyes with a tasty cup of joe at the Stone Cup Coffee Shop. While you're reeling from that caffeine buzz, head over to Meadows or Bohn Park, both of which are good entrance points for tubing down the St. Vrain River. Check out the Lyons outdoor games in late May. Bike, kayak, fish or just have a good time. What's awesome about Lyons is its mountain bike trails, which are plentiful. Off hand, the Hall Ranch trail comes to mind. 

Unfortunately, RTD hasn't increased the amount of service despite many personal requests, so you'll have to make your adventure to Lyons a day trip or a short afternoon. One Y bus departs Boulder very early, while three afternoon trips head north to Lyons. Check the updated RTD schedules for exact times. You'll have to experience a Lyons adventure on a weekday, because no Y service is offered on weekends.

T: To the Denver Tech Center

Out of 35,000 employees at the DTC, at least one lives in Boulder. Is it you? Fortunately, RTD has created the T route which offers service from Boulder all the way to the Denver Tech Center. Covering all this distance, the T may be the longest route in the RTD system! Beginning from the Table Mesa park n' Ride, the T stops four times along Highway 36. These stops include Superior, Broomfield, Westminster and 70th and Broadway. After departing the 70th and Broadway park n' Ride, the T takes 1-25 straight south to the DTC. Exiting on I-225, the T begins its wave through the 14 million square feet that has been developed into the DTC. 

Lookout! Three T buses depart Boulder as the sun rises. After a good days work, T commuters have only three options for a return trip to Boulder before the end of the work day. Weekday service only. 

Stampede: Filling the void between two CU Boulder campuses

As you may have noticed, CU Boulder is a large university. So large, in fact, multiple campuses are needed to accommodate everyone. Enter East Campus. Bordered by 30th street and Arapahoe Ave., East Campus is accessible by the Stampede bus route. This bus stops multiple times throughout Main Campus and then heads east to the University of Colorado Research Park, East Campus Student and Faculty Housing and the neighborhoods on Colorado Avenue.

 

The Stampede allows for frequent visitation between the two campuses during the school year with buses running every ten minutes. During the summer, the Stampede runs every half hour. Stay on your toes because the direction of the Stampede changes from counterclockwise to clockwise after 2:00pm. This route is active for a twelve hour shift starting in the morning. Weekday service only.

Skip: You couldn't miss it if you tried.

If you haven't been hiding under a rock during your time in Boulder, surely you've noticed the Skip buses trolling along Broadway. There's a lot to be said about this route, starting with the spectacular views the southern Skip loop provides. You want to talk shopping? The Skip will kindly unload you at the Table Mesa Shopping Center, the Basemar Shopping Center, the University Hill Retail Shopping District, the Pearl Street Mall and the Ideal Broadway Shops. And if you're craving something really satiating, try any one of the tantalizing restaurants along this route. Let's not forget about the tasty Amante Coffee shops on Walnut and North Broadway, all accessible by this notorious route.

 

You can reach for that Skip schedule to find out when the next bus is coming, but in doing so you might miss it. With up to ten trips per hour starting very early in the morning until late at night, the Skip is active all day. On weekends and holidays, the Skip runs less frequently but you'll hardly have to check that trusty RTD schedule.

S: Hello Denver residents, welcome to Boulder

Passengers of this route will be delivered to multiple locations throughout Boulder including East Campus. After departing the Market Street Station, the S stops by Union Station to serve additional Denver residents. This commuter route then heads north on I-25 before turning northwest onto Highway 36 to Boulder. The S doesn't forget about its riders in Westminster, Broomfield and Superior because it stops at the park n' Rides in all of these cities. After its Highway 36 pick-ups, the S hits up Table Mesa park n' Ride for more morning riders. But the S doesn't stop there, it continues on as Highway 36 morphs into 28th street in Boulder. After a right on Arapahoe, the S visits the CU Research Park, Ball Aerospace and the Flatiron Industrial Park. 

Route S departs Denver starting right after the night clubs close. The S follows the pattern described above multiple times during the early morning. Return trips to Denver depart Boulder when Ellen and Oprah come on air. The last route leaves Boulder just after most offices close for the day. The S is active during weekdays only.

N: Flow upstream to a mountain town

Nederland, a town that barely makes it onto most regional maps, has a unique experience to offer riders of the N. This bus departs the Boulder Transit Center just north of campus and then winds up Boulder Canyon to Nederland. A short 35 minutes west of Boulder lies this town with a population so small town meetings look like group projects. But seriously, Nederland is a scenic day trip destination known for its easily accessible skiing and great biking trails. The Baker Reservoir day use area provides picnic tables for outdoor eating. If your prefer indoor dining, try the Kahtmandu Restaurant for Nepali and Indian cuisine. Observe the Nederland Mining Days in July, where real miners show how quickly and skillfully they can drill and dig.

Trips run about every hour starting when the night owls are headed for bed. Make sure you've completed exploring Nederland before midnight in order to catch the last bus home. N service is less frequent on Saturdays and Sundays.

L: Showing Longmont a little Denver love

Longmont residents shall not be deprived of a transit service to Denver. Highway 287 is the L's backbone. The L begins its journey starting on Highway 287 (Main street in Longmont) and 23rd avenue. It strolls south through this tidy little city passing shops, dining spots and parks. Check out the China Panda on Main and 3rd streets for a tasty treat. Continuing south on Highway 287, the L meets up with the town of Lafayette. Next to the Lafayette park n' Ride you'll find a Sonic and and a plethora of connecting RTD routes. The L breaks from Highway 287 when it merges onto Highway 36. The L then mimics the moves of the B route as it heads to the Market Street Station.

 

Investigate an up-to-date RTD schedule to find out when the LX, the express version of the L, is running. Both buses are active Mondays through Saturdays with limited service on Saturdays. Several Ls and LXs leave Longmont super early in the morning during the week. Trips from Denver to Longmont run all day up to five times an hour until the late evening.  

Jump: All of life's necessities: food, recreation and golf!

Starting at the Boulder Transit Center just north of campus, the Jump takes Arapahoe Road straight out east to Lafayette and Erie. On the Boulder portion of the Jump route there are many mouthwatering restaurants like Big City Burrito. Other notable Boulder Jump destinations include the Flatirons Golf Course, where Tiger Woods has never been spotted. Between Boulder and Lafayette lies Legion Park Open Space where a mile long loop makes for a short and sweet bike ride. Upon arrival in Lafayette, you'll find great dining, outdoor parks and indoor recreation.

 

All these wonderful sights are available for viewing on the Jump starting in the early morning until the late evening. The Jump provides up to six trips per hour during peak travel times. Every third Jump route goes to Erie instead of Lafayette, so make sure you're aboard a bus that's going where you want it to. Jump services are varied on weekdays and holidays, so check RTD schedules for exact times.

J: The CU Express

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HX: Denver! Quickly!

The HX is an express route to Denver and is a great transfer bus for any 205, 206, 209, Jump, Bolt and Stampede riders. Catch the HX on 28th street between the 29th Street Mall and Colorado Ave, about a three-block pick-up zone. Having only three additional stops before arriving in Denver is what gives the HX its express title. These stops are the Table Mesa park n' Ride, the Highway 36 and McCaslin park n' Ride in Superior and the East Flatiron park n' Ride in Broomfield. After Broomfield, the HX zooms to the Civic Center Station located at the south end of the 16th Street Mall. Several connecting routes can bring you to where you need to go around Denver, including the MallRide to the Market Street Station.

 

Designed as a commuter route for Boulder residents who work in Denver, the HX has eight trips from Boulder to Denver in the morning. Conveniently, eight mid-late afternoon return trips depart the Civic Center Station headed back north for Boulder. Assuming commuters are active during the week, the HX is a weekday service only.

Hop: One epic loop

It's hard to comprehend an all encompassing bus loop, but the Hop comes pretty close. The Hop visits so many tasty destinations that it's hard to fit them all on one map. Once aboard the Hop, enjoy the satellite radio piping through the speakers. Rock up and down Pearl Street, where there seems to be a restaurant representing every country. You could even have dinner in the rolling chairs at the Olive Garden! Place an order at Papa Johns in the shopping center at 28th and Arapahoe. See if the Hop can beat the delivery driver back to your place on the hill. If your day calls for less funny business, stop by Folsom Street Coffee Company on your way into campus. Stay on board the Hop after the campus stops, and this magic bus will cascade through the numbered streets on the hill.

 

With trips every 7-10 minutes from mornings until evenings on weekdays, you won't have to think twice about when to catch this route. During the night on weekends/holidays, the Hop becomes less frequent. Fear not, because on Thursdays through Saturdays starting at 12am, Late Night Transit assumes a variation of the HOP duties. Visit goboulder.net for the HOP and Late Night Transit schedules.

GS: Follow the foothills south to Golden

Home of the Coors Brewing Company, Golden has much to offer. Starting at the Boulder Transit Center, the GS heads south on Broadway stopping by campus a few times. As Broadway morphs into Highway 93, the views from the GS are breathtaking. Golden rays of sun shoot through scattered clouds and highlight Rocky Mountain hills and valleys. Regain your breath as the GS heads into Golden. Stop by the Coors Brewery for a tour or plan a biking or kayaking trip with one of Golden's rental centers. Head further south on the GS to shop at the Colorado Mills Mall, where you can enjoy dinner at The Keg Steakhouse. Colorado Mills offers shopping at Saks 5th Avenue, Neiman Markus and Barnes and Noble Booksellers.

 

The GS runs six morning and afternoon trips to and from Boulder and Golden starting when the sun peeks over the horizon. From mid-morning until early afternoon, the GS stops serving customers and settles down for a nap. The last four GS trips from Golden to Boulder leave during rush hour so don't miss your return trip. Plan your Golden trips for the weekdays, because this bus takes weekends off.

DM: For all you medical smarty pants

This specialized RTD route is specifically designed for Boulder residents who are affiliated with the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The DM offers direct service to this campus bordered by Colfax Avenue, Peoria Street and Fitzsimons Parkway. The DM makes three park n' Ride stops in Boulder including Broadway and 27th Way, Church of the Nazarene and Table Mesa. Along Highway 36, the DM also stops in Superior, Broomfield and Westminster. After these six stops, the bus goes directly to the Anschutz Medical Campus.

 

This route has four early morning commuter trips that depart from the Boulder Transit Center, which is located just north of campus. The first trip from Aurora back to Boulder departs in the early afternoon. In total, five trips go from the medical campus to Boulder starting in the afternoon until the early evening. The DM is only active during the week.

DD: Relive your fifth grade field trip!

Watch out for escaped Denver Zoo animals on the DD to Denver. The DD route is CU's key connection to the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in East Denver. The DD starts at the Boulder Transit Center, stops all along Broadway, stops at every park n' Ride along Highway 36, then flows through Denver on Colorado Boulevard. This city street is littered with attractions starting with the City Park Golf Course, an 18 hole course with a city scape background. Additional DD highlights are the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Phipps IMAX Theater are all within a few blocks of each other. As the DD heads further south it passes the before mentioned University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and proceeds to the Colorado Station. This section of the route has multiple eateries, outdoor parks and the United Artists IMAX theater (the second IMAX of the route).

 

The DD has four morning commuter trips headed for Denver. The DD starts its four trips back to Boulder from the Colorado Station beginning in the afternoon. Make sure you're on a DD return trip before 5:00pm, or else you'll have to find a different way home. The DD is intended for weekday travelers, because this bus isn't in service on weekends.

Dash: A scenic trip to a cozy town

If Boulder becomes too urban for you, board the Dash for a comforting ride to the quaint town of Lafayette. Starting at the Boulder Transit Center, the Dash serves campus, South Boulder and then cruises on to Lafayette and Louisville. In these high plains towns you'll find parks and open space, dining, a museum and vintage shopping. Try for that evasive 300 bowling score at the Coal Creek Sports Center. If bowling isn't your thing, and you disliked the movie Kingpin, the Coal Creek Sports center also has bingo. Bingo, a sport traditionally reserved for the elderly, has returned as a fun game fit for younger generations. This area's best kept secret is the Melting Pot, where they don't cook your food for you! After your delectable dinner, take the Dash from the Lafayette park n' Ride back to Boulder.

The Dash is working when you are, from very early in the morning until late at night during weekdays. Three trips per hour is this route's average. Beware, some afternoon trips don't continue past Foothills Parkway. Service is limited on weekends and holidays, but the Dash does in fact run on these days.