1. The Denver Metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, 10 percent of which are between the ages of 18 and 24. For many students, access to public transportation, specifically the light rail, is a key way to get around the city.

2. A roundtrip light rail ticket downtown from the University of Denver costs $4.50. With an RTD Pass, however, most students at DU and other schools in the Denver area can ride for free during the school year.

3. Approximately 12% of public transit users are en route to school. Many people also use public and alternative means of transit for getting to work and going downtown. This is a picture of art on the wall of the Louisiana and Pearl light rail station.

4. For many students, the convenience of DU’s RTD Passes means they don’t have to purchase tickets every time they want to go somewhere.

5. There are five lines on Denver’s light rail system with thirty-six different stops, going as far north as downtown Denver and as far south as Littleton and the Park Meadows Mall area.

6. FFrom 1995-2005, there was a 25 percent increase in public transportation ridership. In 2005, Americans took 9.7 billion trips using public transportation.

7. The benefits of public transit are not just for those who use it—even those who don’t take buses or use other mass transit systems benefit from the decreased road congestion.

8. A 2005 American Community Survey found that only half of one percent of Americans bike to work. A survey in 2003 found that only 22% of people polled were “very satisfied” with how their local community was designed for bike safety. Shown here is a sign saying where bicyclists can alight on the light rail.

9. Only 4.7% of Americans take public transportation to work everyday.

10. The light rail takes commuters to the heart of downtown Denver’s 16th Street Mall , a popular attraction for many students and visitors.

11. Almost six thousand out of close to ten thousand eligible DU students have taken advantage of the RTD Passes so far this school year.