For all its investment in transit, Denver has lacked one immensely satisfying function: a smart fare card for all. Boarding a bus, for instance, is much better when everyone can tap a card that deducts their fare, rather than scrounge through pockets for exact change.
Well, RTD is now ready to tout MyRide, its long-awaited smart card.
RTD riders can load their cards with up to $200 to pay bus or rail fare with a tap. Cards are available online, at select Safeways and at RTD's five regional sales outlets.
Using a MyRide card also grants a small discount of 25 cents per trip or 15 cents per discounted trip.
But you can't use your MyRide card on Access-a-Ride or special services routes like RockiesRide. Nor can your MyRide card be used like a day pass or monthly pass to secure the cheapest possible fare. RTD tells Streetsblog Denver that monthly passes will be available eventually.
Streetsblog Denver also points out that loading money onto your card online isn't as instantaneous as your normal internet transaction -- it takes one to three days before the balance you pay online is reflected on your card. And trekking out to a Safeway or RTD sales outlet may or may not be convenient for you.
Still, RTD says that more than 600 orders have been placed for new cards since their online portal launched May 17.
