Finally, An Easier Way to Get to the Mountains

Commuters, rejoice: After long, collective appeals for a better way to head west (and north, and south), the Colorado Department of Transportation has finally responded with a brand new bus service that connects Denver to Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and Glenwood Springs.

The Interregional Express (IX) will pick up passengers at Park-and-Ride locations along their I-70 and I-25 routes, where round-trip and one-way tickets can also be purchased. Prices range from $10 to $28 for a one-way ride, which feels like a steal for the on board-amenities. The big purple busses—dubbed “Bustangs” (yes, really)—can hold up to 50 passengers, are equipped with free Wi-Fi, USB and regular outlets, reclining seats, and are handicap accessible. Most importantly, the buses have one luxury that your car certainly doesn’t: a restroom.

While this a great leap forward for Coloradans who are tired of wasting gas idling in bumper-to-bumper traffic on their way to the slopes, there’s one downside to the plan (and it’s a big one): For now, the Bustang will be a weekday-only endeavor. So unless you can call in sick on Monday mornings, you’ll be forced to withstand the Sunday slog in a car, just like the rest of us.

The Bustang will launch its commutes in March of this year—just in time for that epic spring skiing. Here’s hoping that the program is successful, and that CDOT will open much-needed weekend routes in the near future.

For pick-up locations, pricing details, and more information, visit CDOT’s website.