Starting Friday, Bustang will provide transportation from Colorado State University to Denver on the weekends.
The RamsRoute will leave for Denver Union Station at 4 p.m. every Friday, and will depart for campus from DUS at 4 p.m. Sundays.
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The round-trip will cost $19 and seats must be reserved online or through the mobile app. A one-way ticket to DUS costs $10. The Bustang will service campus at Meridian Avenue and Plum Street, near Parmelee Hall.
“The more students that ride the route, the more likely we can get additional buses to run on Fridays,” said Aaron Fodge, the alternative transportation manager.
The Bustang service began in mid-July, originally focused on commuters from Denver to Fort Collins. According to Fodge, early returns for Fort Collins were positive, which led to the weekend service for CSU.
In August, the Bustang averaged 145 passengers every day on its north route, according to information obtained by the Coloradoan. CDOT predicted 111 riders per day, so ridership was higher than expected in Fort Collins.
“I think that the Bustang is a great idea because it gives students who don’t have cars an easy way to get to Denver and their parents don’t have to continuously make the drive up here,” said Eboni Stevenson, a sophomore social work major. “I myself would definitely use this bus and it is not that expensive.”
Previously, there was no direct bus route from Fort Collins to Denver.
“Before the Bustang, a student would have to take the FLEX to Longmont, transfer to Boulder and then transfer to Denver,” Fodge said. “This would have been about a 2.5 hour trip.”
Every bus is handicap accessible and equipped with restrooms, bike racks, free WiFi, power outlets and USB ports. Students must reserve a bike rack space online before riding.
“I’m from Seattle and (Bustang) would provide a good way for me to get to campus from the airport on the weekends or over breaks since I don’t have a car,” said Danielle Backman, junior ecosystem science and sustainability major.
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Other students said this service will make the trip to Denver easier.
“I would definitely use the Bustang,” said Alec Shepherd, mechanical engineering freshman. “I don’t have a car, so it would be nice to get out of Fort Collins over the weekend. I like visiting Denver. It would be cool to be able to go hang out on 16th Street Mall.”
During the week, Bustang also connects Denver to Colorado Springs and Glenwood Springs.
“The Bustang is a direct and inexpensive option for our students,” Fodge said. “We are so pleased CDOT is bringing the route right to campus to make it easier for our students to ride.”
Collegian Sustainability Beat Reporter Erin Douglas can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @erinmdouglas23.