The bus shelter at 1st Avenue and Lincoln Street that Erica Pike often used during her commute downtown disappeared a few weeks ago, after she'd lodged several complaints about its untidiness to the private company that managed it.
But this week, the Regional Transportation District installed a new shelter there and says it will also maintain it.
"A shelter was warranted to be placed at this location as it met RTD's criteria of 50 daily boardings on average," RTD spokeswoman Pauline Haberman wrote in an email.
The company that owned and maintained the old shelter, Outdoor Promotions, told RTD it would remove it after Pike began contacting the agency and the company about needed cleanups, according to an email obtained via an open records request.
Pike was glad to learn that RTD had installed a new shelter. She also hopes the agency and the city of Denver will step up their efforts to add more - and keep them clean.
"Having maintained bus stops is a basic thing that RTD should be offering its riders," she said. "I knew how to get attention. I know who to call. And most people don't. While I am glad our stop is fixed, I hope other riders feel empowered to demand more."
Haberman, however, said RTD does not have any immediate plans to install any additional shelters.
