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    16th Street FreeRide

    4.1 (90 reviews)
    Open 5:30 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

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    Robert S.

    This is such a nice benefit about downtown Denver. You can catch a free shuttle bus between the Union Station area and the Civic Center area, passing along about 1 mile of shops, restaurants and businesses in the downtown. We took it a few times and since the Union Station "terminal stop" was just 2 blocks from our hotel, this was a no brainer....that terminal stop was close to 17th St and Chestnut. Depending on the day of the week and the time of day, the buses can come as quickly as 5-6 minutes or 10-15 minutes apart. Due to construction nowadays on 16th St, the shuttle going towards Civic Center travels mainly on 17th St and the one going back to Union Station travels mostly on 15th St. All the shuttles are electric and they look like a regular bus, which stops at all stops along the route, so no need to ring a bell asking for a stop.

    16th Street Free Mall Ride
    Helene S.

    Need to get a lift between Union Station and the Colorado State Capital? Hop on the 16th Street Free Mall Ride. Easy to get to Union Station from the Denver Airport using the Denver Airport Rail. Nice to learn about the Free MallRide from the Hyatt Concierge. The free electric bus stops at each corner on 16th Street. There are luggage racks available as well. The buses run almost all day from around 5 AM to 1 AM. Nice to be able to hop on and hop off, especially after a long day spent exploring the parks, museums and shops in Downtown Denver.

    Inside looking out during the holidays in December
    Pamela M.

    Can people really complain about FREE? Of course they can, but let's face it no one has to ride it :) I love the convenience of the free mall ride if I'm headed someplace on or near 16th street. It picks up at civic center station downtown and ends at union station, just over a mile away. All along the way it stops at *almost* every street. So depending how many are running at the time and where you're headed, it's true, it "might" be quicker to walk. But, if you're tired of walking, have a long way, or catch it in perfect timing, it's really helpful! The driver is behind glass for their safety. Not sure what's gone on in Denver, but it's been in the news (even in my hometown of Milwaukee, WI) that (sadly) bus drivers have at times been victims of violence!

    Bill T.

    I like free things that are useful and this fits the bill! The buses run frequently during the day so if you miss one another will come along quickly. The stops are well marked and it's so easy to use, even a tourist can do it! I was able to pick it up right by Union Station and take it to the street my hotel was on and it was super easy. Buses are easy to enter and leave. There is a large transient population in Denver and these folks make use of this free service just like everyone else and I could tell it made some of the tourists uncomfortable when one of these individuals plopped down in a seat right next to them. I ride the E train every day so I encounter that a lot but for people who aren't used to mass transit, it may be a wake up call. Not saying that is a bad thing at all...it's good to "pop the bubble" that some people live in. Service starts early and runs late, so if you're downtown having fun, no need to rush, you can still hop on the bus.

    Jenna S.

    I absolutely love free things, and I love free transportation even more. As a citizen from the city that ups its public transportation and parking meter rates as often as it possibly can, I really appreciate all kinds of free transportation. The MallRide leaves from the base of the Capitol at the beginning of the mall and drives up and down the mall all day. Though the mall is only one mile long, the MallRide stops at every block and allows passengers to get on/off as they please. No need to ring a bell, the bus will stop anyway! On those hot summer days, this really provides some much needed relief from the sun. Also helpful for those just a bit too lazy to walk from one end to the other if that's your destination. I don't know why so many people rate this so poorly. Sure, there are some colorful characters on the bus, but aren't there everywhere? I enjoy the guy who is singing or preaching on the bus - he adds a little bit of funny to my day and I like that. The MallRide buses were clean and comfortable, even when they were packed. The layout provides a lot of standing space so there isn't a ton of awkward touching (as there are on some older Chicago buses - ewww). I love the MallRide and I'll just take it back and forth the next time I come to Denver.

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    4 years ago

    It's the best free bus I've ever taken. Never too crowded, very frequent buses, and a+ drivers.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - 16th Street FreeRide

    Need ride to zoo?

    The MallRide only goes up and down the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver, not to the zoo, which is in City Park, five miles east. You can take the MallRide to Civic Center Station or Union Station, then catch a regular RTD bus to the zoo.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - 16th Street FreeRide

    Great idea for 16th Street mall especially for the lazy or great during the winter months.

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

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    Denver Union Station - Upstairs

    Denver Union Station

    4.3(563 reviews)
    0.2 miLodo, Northwest

    Denver's Union Station is full of history, good eats/drinks, and the beginning or end of trip…read morestories. I am not too aware of all the history behind the building, but I look forward to soon. There are plenty of places to eat and have a drink in and around Union Station (breakfast spot, coffee spot, at least 2 bars I'm aware of, etc). It really is a nice place to both begin and end trips. It is hard to explain but I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it. It is also a nice place to get some work done. There are plenty of places to sit and plug in. Keep in mind that the bathrooms downstairs are open to the public so you may see some interesting things and individuals there.

    I LovE Denver's Union station. I have lived in and visited many other cities (over time, so they…read moremay have renovated since) but Denver's Union station feels so fresh and modern with historic bones - not just like historic and old or something. I love Cooper Lounge upstairs where you can get a classy espresso martini and have an elevated experience and watch the activity below. There is so much going on in all of the various wings of this place! A hotel, other restaurants, at Christmas there is a holiday popup in the basement, a ticketing station, etc! I've really only been to the main area and love the new beautiful installment of Pigtrain Coffee. I love the fancy pistachio pastry dessert at Baumé and the Christmas tree decor this past year was AMAZE. I feel like it represents a standard that people will experience throughout Denver in their travels like if they just arrived there via Union Station or are relatively new. It's a vibe of quality that permeates throughout.

    Photos
    Denver Union Station - Observation car

    Observation car

    Denver Union Station - At Snooze AM!

    At Snooze AM!

    Denver Union Station - Right behind the stations building is the light rail that takes you to the airport

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    Right behind the stations building is the light rail that takes you to the airport

    RTD - "Mr." Tough Guy on (R)- would tell people in a job interview he's "patient," good with people.  ***** NOT!

    RTD

    2.1(266 reviews)
    0.1 miLodo, Northwest

    Truly mediocre. Light rail trains frequently are late or simply do not run, and it is extremely…read morerare for them to post any kind of alert or update on their website when this happens. You just stand around hoping it shows up, then eventually the next one does. Maybe. Service is already thin with trains only running every 15 minutes or so at best, so when you miss your connection(s) the time lost starts adding up quickly. This morning the bus driver got lost which was a first, so I missed my train and was late to work. This didn't surprise me unfortunately, as I expect RTD to screw me over at least 10% of the time and they were about due. Leaving work the train simply didn't show up, so I missed the hourly bus back home. I'm currently standing in a shelter at Federal Center station, and in keeping with their policy of being awful, RTD decided the shelters should have holes in the sides so that the wind can pass straight through. There's plexiglass at the upper portion so if you stand on the bench it's less miserable, but it's really frustrating how bad this transportation agency is at all aspects of transportation.

    UPDATED REVIEW - Avoiding RTD is not an option most people have. Including myself. As mush as I…read morewant to avoid RTD because of poor operations, maintenance and management, it's not the answer. It's become more important to consider how I (and we) can find smart ways to continue supporting our state and local transportation systems. I recently discovered that RTD's declining reliability and accessibility ultimately is a result of funding cuts, grant cuts and budget cuts by the Department of Transportation under the current administration...

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    RTD - RTD sucks

    RTD sucks

    RTD - Foil for smoking "blues".

    Foil for smoking "blues".

    RTD - Close to Yale station I believe.

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    Close to Yale station I believe.

    RTD Union Station - Union Station transportation hub for Denver

    RTD Union Station

    3.0(37 reviews)
    0.4 miLodo, Northwest

    Shoutout great public transportation…read more RTD Union Station has been the beginning and end of many memorable nights downtown. If you're headed downtown for some fun, I recommend checking if RTD is available near you. From concerts and sporting events at Denver's top venues to bar hopping or skating downtown, RTD Union Station is a great and reliable way to get to and from your event. Did someone say free DD for the night? RTD has you covered. I found it to be safe and well taken care of, though I recommend the buddy system when possible. RTD Union Station is ALSO the perfect way to get to and from the Denver International Airport affordably. It makes solid time as well, considering how far Denver International Airport is from the city.

    What a great building to have in your city. This is a great spot for place where things come…read moretogether. The station is located in the new 'Union Station neighborhood', where multiple modes of transportation come together in order to help connect the city with its visitors and residents. We came here from the airport. It seems to be happening all over now that you can fly in to a destination than catch a train to your final spot (or close to it.) It's also a lot of fun taking the train through new spots and getting a feel for where you are. They started the refurbishing project in 2010 and officially had the Grand Re-Opening in 2014. This is truly the smart way for cities to go by utilizing what they have and maintaining a great history. The building is surrounded by businesses, housing, hotels and restaurants. It is also a short walk to the ballpark. It's great the way Denver is modernizing while keeping their history very much alive. KUDOs to the team at RTD Union Station

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    RTD Union Station
    RTD Union Station
    RTD Union Station - Headed to DIA

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    Headed to DIA

    RTD Alameda Station - Four Chromatic Gates by Herbert Bayer is at this station  02-25-2024

    RTD Alameda Station

    3.9(7 reviews)
    3.0 miBaker, Southwest

    Headed south from Union Station, this is stop #5. The Alameda Station serves the Denver Design…read moreDistrict. Many people that live in this area use this station to commute to and from downtown Denver for both work and play. There are many beautiful art installations both at and nearby the station including the Articulated Wall sculpture that is seen by thousands of people everyday that drive past it on I-25.

    So, as other reviewers have stated, this is indeed a light rail station. Other than the strange…read morestatue just north of the platform ("breakdancing native Americans"), it's not a bad spot. I probably wouldn't want to live in the "luxury apartments" next door, but maybe that's just me. There seems to be a little restaurant nearby, judging by a sign on the corner of the building that states "coffee and cocktails," but since I'm usually on my way to work when I pass through here, I'm unlikely to give that one a shot for the most part. The station is about as clean as you can reasonably expect a station in the middle of Denver to be, perhaps because of the "luxury" station-adjacent housing. Maybe that's what makes it so luxurious--it's like having your own chauffeur that also drives around thousands of other people a day and stays on a set of tracks? I know not. I-25 and Broadway houses the next stop, and it certainly has ample parking as well as a plethora of included bus lines to transfer to. For park-n-rides, I don't really know which would be better, but I'd probably rather transfer trains at Alameda given the choice--less people means less fighting to get onto the train, at least, even if the train is crowded.

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    RTD Alameda Station - Artwork

    Artwork

    RTD Alameda Station - Timetable   02-25-2024

    Timetable 02-25-2024

    RTD Alameda Station - Hands up

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    Hands up

    RTD - 10th And Osage Station

    RTD - 10th And Osage Station

    3.5(2 reviews)
    1.3 miLincoln Park, Southwest

    Headed south on the E line from Union Station, this is stop #4. This station services the Lincoln…read moreNeighborhood. One of the Oldest neighborhoods in the Denver Metro Area. Points of interest include The Buckhorn Steakhouse, which is Denver's oldest still in operation restaurants, Lincoln Park, Museo de las Americas, and other small art galleries and recreation centers. I like the beautiful art installation right in front of the station.

    Nice little station but a single stop away from the visually-bland Auraria Station. Curiously,…read morealthough this station seems to handle far less volume than Auraria, the eastern side features some grass and trees, and it's actually a surprisingly pleasant little nook in the middle of the city as a result. (The western side is simply a bunch of empty train tracks and industrial properties, but you take what you can get from city tram stations.) There's a footpath leading directly to the Bighorn Exchange if you're coming through later in the day and crave a bite to eat at the northern end of the station, or you can just get out of the sun beneath one of the awnings if you're just waiting between trains. All in all, it's worth it to hop the first southbound train you can from Auraria and transfer to whatever you'd like here, if just for the trees and the pleasant atmosphere (both metaphorical and literal, since this station is a bit off the roadside and Auraria is at the center point between two highways and several campus access roads) for that few minutes between rides.

    Photos
    RTD - 10th And Osage Station - Art work

    Art work

    RTD - 10th And Osage Station
    RTD - 10th And Osage Station - Parking deck underway

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    Parking deck underway

    16th Street FreeRide - publictransport - Updated May 2026

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