Glenwood Springs has hit the road with a new kind of public transit. The City officially launched Ride Glenwood On-Demand, a flexible, app- and phone-based microtransit pilot program designed to provide another option for getting around town with ease. But first, let’s take a look at the bigger transportation picture.

Transportation Demand Management

From commuter and school traffic, to speeding, lack of affordable housing for people to live and work in the same community, aging infrastructure and beyond — it’s clear we face significant transportation challenges.

We see the microtransit program as an important step in our broader transportation strategy. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) is a set of strategies and policies aimed at improving how people use existing transportation infrastructure by encouraging alternatives to single-occupant vehicle trips. It focuses on maximizing efficiency and reducing congestion, emissions, and costs within a transportation system.

With TDM, it is most effective when multiple strategies are employed together. These strategies include well-connected transportation systems, quality biking and pedestrian infrastructure, managed parking, and multiple transportation options such as buses, bike share, and microtransit.

The City of Glenwood Springs works closely with regional partners on transportation issues (and related challenges that contribute to traffic such as the housing crisis), but our decision-making authority is limited to within our city limits. We can’t dictate what happens up or downvalley. In the case of Colorado Highway 82, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is the final authority.

However, we are working with Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) to establish a regional Transportation Management Organization (TMO). This TMO will bring together local governments, major employers, schools, CDOT and Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) to coordinate other transportation programs that could include vanpools, incentive programs, community outreach and more.

A few other highlights of ways we’re working to address transportation issues:

• Progress on housing stability programs (check it out at cogs.us/Housing)
• Speed cameras coming soon in town
• Significant investments in street infrastructure thanks to the recently approved 1% sales tax

Glenwood Springs and our region faces a wide slate of transportation issues, but by leveraging various tools, including microtransit, we’re aiming toward a holistic approach to make improvements for our community.

What Is Ride Glenwood On-Demand?

We’re trying to reduce traffic, improve safety, enhance local quality of life, and make it easier for people to get around. Ride Glenwood On-Demand opens up new options for people who may find it difficult to use a regular bus such as folks with mobility issues or who live far from an existing bus stop.

Unlike traditional bus routes with fixed stops and schedules, Ride Glenwood On-Demand lets riders book point-to-point trips when they need them through a smartphone app, Ride RF, or by calling 970-404-4007. The service runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Rides cost just $1, and the service is ADA-accessible, bilingual, and open to everyone—including seniors, students, and individuals with mobility challenges. Rides are available throughout Glenwood Springs city limits, helping to close long-standing transportation gaps to areas that previously didn’t have fixed-route transit service.

To ride, download the Ride RF app for Android or iOS or call 970-404-4007 to schedule a ride. More details, frequently asked questions, and app download links are available at gwsco.info/ride.

City leadership also hopes the program will reduce the number of cars on the road — especially single-occupancy vehicles — which could relieve congestion, open up parking, and support access to local businesses.

Bonus news – trips on Ride Glenwood On-Demand to and from Sixth Street are FREE through June during the temporary street closure for construction. On-Demand drivers will also be giving out $20 “6th Street Green” certificates redeemable at participating business for passengers with destinations on Sixth Street. Be sure to get out and support all our local, small businesses.

Pilot Program Details and Future Planning

This pilot program is funded by a $400,000 grant from the Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA), matching city funds, and operational funding from fares. As this is a pilot program, the on-demand shuttle service will be available from May 1 to December 31, 2025. Once the trial is complete, the City will assess long-term funding for the future.

Over the course of the next eight months, the City will track ridership data, common trip patterns, and service gaps. This information could shape future decisions about fixed-route transit, including possible changes to Ride Glenwood bus stops and routes.

The shape of the pilot program may also change. Aspects of the program that are up for potential future discussion are service hours, ride fares, variable pricing, discounts for certain populations or locations, and more.

The City encourages feedback from residents and will adjust the service as needed in the coming months to better meet the community’s needs. Have you taken a ride yet? Try it out and let the City know what you think at gwsco.info/ride.

Mitchell Weimer was elected to City Council in 2023 and represents Ward 4.