Student Bus Pass Program

Spring 2006 SkyRide election information here.

Summer Bus Passes Available May 1

Summer student bus passes will be available at the Campus Buff OneCard Office in Willard 182 starting May 1. Students enrolled for summer classes may pickup a sticker for free. Students enrolled spring 2006 and registered for fall 2007 may purchase a sticker for $54. The office is currently open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Starting May 12 the summer hours will be 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.

 

Boulder has long been renowned for its public transportation infrastructure, and now more than ever you should take the bus. Your Buff OneCard student ID with valid RTD decal serves as an RTD pass.

Using your pass you can ride any regular RTD route in metro Denver. To catch a bus, find a schedule to your destination, show the driver your Bus Pass, and you’re on your way! Schedules are also available at the UMC reception desk and the CU Bike Station.

If you don’t have your bus pass, pick it up at the Buff OneCard office in Willard Hall, room 182, Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00. It won’t cost you anything since you’ve pre-paid for it in your student fees. (Replacement Buff OneCards do have a fee.)

  Visit the Buff OneCard site for more information on how to get your Buff OneCard and RTD sticker.

Bus Pass Statistics, Trends and Charts

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the RTD Union workers' strike affect my bus pass?

Your student bus pass is valid on all currently operating bus routes within RTD and the HOP. Visit www.rtd-denver.com for information on the strike. Visit ucbparking.colorado.edu for information about accessing the CU-Boulder campus during the strike.

RTD has given a credit on the 2006 - 2007 contract for the week during which students did not have service due to the strike.

Does the pass work on the SkyRide service to DIA? How about regional and express routes and light rail lines?

Yes, your bus pass works on any regular RTD route in metro Denver. This includes the SkyRide service to DIA as well as all regional routes, express routes, and light rail lines.

How much does the student bus pass cost?

The Student Bus Pass costs $54 (September, 2008 and is part of your student fees if you are an enrolled student at CU.

Summer student bus passes will be available at the Campus Buff OneCard Office in Willard 182 starting May 1. Students enrolled for summer classes may pickup a sticker for free. Students enrolled spring 2006 and registered for fall 2007 may purchase a sticker for $54. The office is currently open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Starting May 12 the summer hours will be 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.

The 2008 - 2009 student bus pass fee is $54 per semester.

What destinations can my bus pass get me to? Where can I find a schedule and map?

RTD covers the eight county area around metro Denver; 38 municipalities in six counties plus two city/county jurisdictions are served. You can ride all RTD and CTN routes within Boulder and Denver for free — Rockies Ride, Runner’s Ride and the CU Ski Bus are not included for free ridership with the student bus pass. Visit our schedules & maps page, or go directly to RTD's or GO Boulder's Web sites for online schedules and maps.

Can I take my bike on the bus?

Yes, place your bike on the rack in front of the bus or underneath the bus on regional buses. Visit RTD's Web site and click on "How To Ride" and then "bike-n-Ride" for visuals on how to put your bike on the bus or light rail.

What do I do if I lose my sticker? My student ID?

New cards and RTD stickers are issued at the Buff OneCard office, room 182 in Willard Hall. A lost sticker can be replaced for $10. A damaged sticker can be replaced for free if it is returned with the card sleeve. If you lose your entire Buff OneCard, a replacement costs $20 and includes a new RTD sticker and sleeve. You can call 303-492-1212 24 hours a day to report a lost card. For more information about replacing a lost or damaged student ID, visit the Buff OneCard Web site.

I won’t be in school over the summer – can I still get a pass?

Bus passes are valid throughout the academic year. If you are enrolled for classes in the Fall, a Summer Bus Pass is available at the Buff OneCard office, room 183 in Willard Hall, for $54.

Why YOU should use your Student Bus Pass

• It Helps Save Your Money: Riding the buses is free with your pre-paid Student Bus Pass or EcoPass. Parking on Campus runs at $30+ per month, insurance runs at $50-$200 per month, all in addition to maintenance and fuel costs.
• It Helps Save The Earth: When you ride the bus, you are helping to reduce toxic greenhouse emissions that cause asthma, global warming, and acid rain. You are also contributing to a reduction in parking and driving infrastructure — this infrastructure leaves a large and harmful footprint on the land, uses toxic ingredients to build, and is downright ugly.
• It Helps Save Our Community: Busing is an interactive experience that combats social decay and harmful urban sprawl. Plus it reduces the need for oil and gas, which are major causes for global conflict.

History of the Student Bus Pass Program

The Student Bus Pass program began in 1991 when students overwhelmingly voted to create the student bus pass program, Since that time, it has come back to referendum once, experiencing a landslide victory of 16 to 1 in support of expanding the bus pass program.

CU and Boulder have long been renowned as some of the best examples of sustainable transportation infrastructure in the United States. CU is proud to report that driving to school has truly become the alternative mode of transportation, while bussing and bicycling have taken over as the principal modes of transportation for commuting to campus.

The program has developed through the years with the partnership and direction of the CU Environmental Center, the student body, the university administration, the city of Boulder and the Regional Transportation District.

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