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University of Colorado Denver

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Getting To Campus And Around Town
One of the best things about being a student is that you get a pass to all public transit! The cost of this is covered by your student fees, so it makes sense to use this pass as much as possible and get the most bang for your buck.
 
Here’s the low-down on public transit for students:
 
  • Your pass comes in the form of a sticker you can pick up at the Campus ID Center on the second floor of the Tivoli Student Union, across the hall from the bookstore. You will need to bring a print out of your class schedule, proving that you have registered for classes (at least one on-campus class). If you are a new student, make sure to tell the ID Center staff because new students do not pay the fee.
  • You will need to get a new sticker every semester. A good way to remember to do this is to go to the ID Center right after you register for your classes.
  • RTD, or Denver’s Regional Transportation District, provides bus, light rail, airport shuttle (SkyRide), and even pick-up service (Call-n-Ride). You can use RTD’s trip planner tool to find the fastest route to your destination. Google Maps also includes a transit route tool—just click “Get Directions,” then the bus icon.
  • In the summer, if you are enrolled in summer classes, you can get a sticker pass, as well. However, if you are not enrolled and take public transit at least two times a day, consider purchasing a monthly pass until school starts up in the fall.
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If you have a car, make sure you use it wisely. Read these tips before you drive:
 
  • Even if you have a car, we highly recommend finding a way to use public transportation to get to campus. Parking on campus is often over-crowded and costs more than public transit – which is free to students!
  • One great option is RTD Park-n-Ride, where you can park your car at a transit station and take the train or bus into campus. Park-n-Ride is free in most cases. Check out the map to find a parking lot near you. Make sure to note what kind of lot it is, as some require fees for out-of-district and more than 24-hour parking.
  • To find out if your car’s license plate is classified as out-of-district, type in your license plate number here. If your plates are out of district, you can request a student exemption from fees by contacting Central Parking, a third party company, at 303-292-1505.
  • If you need to park on campus, you can find locations and prices of on-campus lots on the AHEC map. Use the electronic kiosks to pay the parking fee and make sure to leave the slip on your dash. This fee covers parking until midnight the day you pay, regardless of what time you paid. Note that the Tivoli Parking Garage is different and charges hourly rates.
  • On the parking map, you’ll see that the least expensive lots are Aspen, Walnut, Beech, Birch, and Cottonwood. However, this also means that these lots fill up quickly. In general, parking on campus tends to be the most difficult between 10:30am and Noon. If you are trying to park at a high volume time and don’t have time to wait around for a spot to open up, you may want to head for the 7th Street Garage, which is more expensive but most often has open spots.
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Denver is a great city for bicyclists! With numerous bike paths, a flat terrain, and a large biking community, you’re in the right place if you love to cycle. But make sure you consider these important tips before you ride.
 
  • Lock your bike with a u-lock. This is a super strong lock that looks like a letter “U” with a bar across the top (common brands include Kryptonite, Onguard, and Bell). DO NOT use a cable lock, as it can be easily cut by bike thieves. This is such a large problem that some universities now require u-locks on all bicycles. If you don’t yet have a u-lock, you can purchase one at any local bike shop for about $30.
  • Auraria campus prohibits biking on pedestrian walkways. This means most of campus. Anywhere a car could not go is a pedestrian walkway, and you must dismount from your bicycle or skateboard. Campus police will ticket you for violations. While this may be frustrating, this rule is in place to protect both pedestrians and bicyclists from what had previously been common and dangerous collisions.
  • Wear a helmet. While helmets are not legally required in the state of Colorado, you can make the choice to protect your life. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in bicycle accidents. You may be in a hurry to get to school or concerned about looking cute, but a dead bicyclist isn’t going anywhere and definitely isn’t pretty.
  • Google Maps now includes a comprehensive bike route option when you search for directions. Just click on the symbol of the bicyclist. You can also purchase a Denver area bicycle map at any local bike shop.
  • You can combine your bike commute with public transit. RTD provides a number of services to accommodate bicyclists, including bike racks, bike locker rentals, and ways to load your bike on a bus or light rail.
  • If you don’t own a bike, you can take advantage of Denver’s bike sharing resource, B-Cycle. Register online using a credit card and check out a bike from one of numerous stations. Once you return the bike to another B-Cycle station, you’ll be charged for the amount of time you used.
  • Want to meet other bicyclists? During the warmer months, you can join up with hundreds of other bicyclists and enjoy group rides and other happenings with Denver Cruisers.
 
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If you don’t own a car, you know that some trips are a lot easier with a car than on the bus – like when you need to make a big purchase or when you want to take a road trip. Fortunately, there are several Denver resources you can use.
 

Ride-Shares

 
Zimride.com is the ride-share resource promoted by CU Denver. Simply enter the ride you need or want to share and connect with others on the network. You can be very specific with your times and locations, so it’s easier to plan shorter trips. You’ll also only be sharing rides with other CU Denver students.
 
Craigslist.org includes a ride share section, as well. This resource is more often appropriate for longer trips, for example, from Denver to Cheyenne. Also, because this resource is open to the general public, students should exercise caution and common sense when hitching a ride (in other words, only catch a ride if you have a buddy who can come along).
 
 

Car-Shares

 
eGo CarShare provides short-term rentals of cars located at convenient locations around the Denver area. Once you have registered with eGo, you can sign up for a car the day of and only pay for as many hours as you need. The important thing is to register now, instead of waiting to the day you need to borrow your first car, since it takes a few days for eGo to process your registration.


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