Bustang

Bustang, Colorado’s first ever, state-owned and operated bus system, connects major populations, employment centers and local transit entities during the week along the I-25 front range and I-70 mountain corridors. Bustang will offer service routes during peak commuting times with an official service launch of July 13, 2015.

The following information was pulled from the ridebustang.com website. The information shown below focuses on the southern Bustang route, from Colorado Springs to Denver.  The entire Bustang system also provides service from Fort Collins and Glenwood Springs to Denver.    

Bustang FAQ

The following FAQ was pulled from http://ridebustang.com/faq#n80.

WHO RUNS BUSTANG SERVICE?
Bustang is managed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), an agency of the State of Colorado. CDOT will contract with Ace Express Coaches to operate bus service for all Bustang routes.

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I WANT TO BE A BUSTANG DRIVER?
All driver hiring inquiries should be referred to vswanson@aceexpresscoaches.com or (303)421-2780 ext. 115.

HOW MANY BUSES WILL BE IN OPERATION?
The Bustang service will have 13 over-the-road coaches in rotation on each route. Each coach has a 50-passenger capacity, and will come equipped with restrooms, bike racks, free WiFi, 110v outlets, USB outlets, and are handicap accessible.

WHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS?
Single trip tickets will be sold on all buses from each park-and-ride. Passengers are able to pay their fare when boarding the bus using cash only. Passengers without exact change will be issued a fare credit to be used on Bustang fare only. No change will be dispensed for onboard fare purchases. Advance tickets and ticket packages can be purchased via the Bustang website and Bustang mobile app. Passengers who purchase a ticket online will receive an email receipt with a ticket barcode, which they should print and present when boarding the bus. Passengers purchasing through the Bustang mobile app will have a ticket barcode in the app. There will be no physical tickets issued.

CAN I CANCEL MY TRIP AFTER TICKET PURCHASE?
Cancellations for refund will not be accepted for Bustang service. Tickets will be valid for up to 1-year from purchase date and can be used on any Bustang trip of the same cost within that 1-year period.

CAN I TRANSFER TO BUSTANG SERVICE FROM MY EXISTING BUS SERVICE PROVIDER?
There will be options to connect from select park-and-rides with the following transit partner agencies: Roaring Fork Transit Authority, Eagle County Transit, Vail Transportation, Summit Stage, Mountain Metro, Transfort and RTD. Separate fare purchases must be made for local transit agencies and for Bustang service.

WHAT IF I MISSED THE BUS OR MY CONNECTION AFTER HOURS? WILL THERE BE A GUARANTEED RIDE HOME?
CDOT is teaming with the local transit partners who provide a Guaranteed Ride Home including travelers in northern Colorado and in the Denver metro area. Currently there is not a guaranteed ride home in the Pikes Peak region but discussions are in progress.

THERE MIGHT BE TIMES THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICES TRAVELERS MIGHT NEED ASSISTANCE GOING TO HOSPITALS IN DENVER. HOW WILL THAT WORK?
CDOT is working with the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council (DRMAC) for guidance and assistance to enable passengers to get to their destination.

CAN I USE BUSTANG SERVICE FOR TRAVEL WITHIN MY METRO AREA?
Passengers who are traveling within the Denver Metro Area, Colorado Springs Metro Area, or the Fort Collins Metro Area will not be accepted. Bustang service is intended for intercity travel between major regional centers. Please utilize your local transit provider for travel within your Metro Area.

I WILL BE TRAVELING WITH INFANTS/SMALL CHILDREN. ARE THE SEATS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE CAR SEATS? IS THERE STORAGE AVAILABLE ON THE BUS FOR STROLLERS?
The seats will have seatbelts that allow for car seats to be strapped in.  There are also storage bins on the outside of bus that provide room for strollers and other necessary equipment to be stored.

HOW DO I DOWNLOAD THE BUSTANG MOBILE APP? WHAT KIND OF SERVICES/INFORMATION WILL IT PROVIDE?
Once development is complete, the Bustang mobile app will be available for download in the Apple and Android stores. It will provide schedule and fare information, and allow for in-app ticket purchases.

WHAT AMENITIES ARE PROVIDED ON THE BUSTANG BUSES?
Each Bustang coach is equipped with a restroom, bike racks, free Wi-Fi, power outlets and USB ports. There is also a wheelchair lift and two wheelchair tie-down areas on each coach. Please be advised that our WiFi system is dependent on local cellular signals. In areas with poor cellular service, WiFi may be intermittent or nonexistent.

WILL THE DRIVER ANNOUNCE STOPS IN ADVANCE, AND WILL THERE BE SIMULTANEOUS VISUAL SIGNAGE/NOTIFICATION?
Each bus will eventually have automated stop notifications, which will include both audio announcements and an LED screen displaying the name of the next stop/station. Until that feature becomes available the Driver will announce all stops.

IS MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ALLOWED ON BUSES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES?
Per Part 37.167 (h) of the US Code Title 49, respirators or portable oxygen equipment is permitted:
(h) The entity shall not prohibit an individual with a disability from traveling with a respirator or portable oxygen supply, consistent with applicable Department of Transportation rules on the transportation of hazardous materials (49 CFR subtitle B, chapter 1, subchapter C).

WHY DOES THE BUSTANG SERVICE NOT PROVIDE A COMPARABLE COMPLEMENTARY PARATRANSIT SERVICE?
Per Part 37.121 (c) of the US Code Title 49, requirements for complementary paratransit do not apply since the Bustang service is a commuter bus service.

ARE SERVICE/GUIDE DOGS ALLOWED ON BUSTANG BUSES?
Per Part 37.167 (d) of the US Code Title 49 Subpart G, public transit providers are required to allow service animals to accompany their handlers onto the transit vehicle, in this case the Bustang buses:
(d) The entity shall permit service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles and facilities.

Part 37.3 defines a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.”

IS THERE A FARE CHARGED FOR SOMEONE ACCOMPANYING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY?
Fare guidance for companions and personal care attendants is under the US Code Title 49 Subpart F paratransit section, Part 37.129, even though Bustang is not a paratransit service. Companions are charged the same fare as the passenger with a disability they are accompanying. Personal care attendants ride free. Please contact us regarding providing us with personal care attendant qualifying information.

As per Part 37.123 of the US Code Title 49, to prevent potential abuse, the rule provides that a companion (e.g., friend or family member) does not count as a personal care attendant unless the eligible individual regularly makes use of a personal care attendant and the companion is actually acting in that capacity. As noted under §37.125, a provider may require that, as part of the initial eligibility certifi cation process, an individual indicate whether he or she travels with a personal care attendant. If someone does not indicate the use of an attendant, then any individual accompanying him or her would be regarded simply as a companion.

IF THE ON-BOARD RESTROOM IS NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR A PASSENGER WITH A DISABILITY, CAN UNSCHEDULED REST STOPS BE REQUESTED?
Per Part 37.3 of the US Code Title 49, a Bustang bus is defi ned as an Over-the-Road Bus (OTRB) because the passenger deck is located over a baggage compartment. So as per Part 37.201 (c) of the US Code Title 49, unscheduled rest stops are not required for express runs under three hours. For travel times exceeding 3 hours, an effort will be made to accommodate unscheduled rest stop requests for passengers with disabilities who are unable to use the restroom. However, the stop is not required.

(c) If an OTRB equipped with an inaccessible restroom is making an express run of three hours or more without a rest stop, and a passenger with a disability who is unable to use the inaccessible restroom requests an unscheduled rest stop, the operator shall make a good faith effort to accommodate the request. The operator is not required to make the stop. However, if the operator does not make the stop, the operator shall explain to the passenger making the request the reason for its decision not to do so.

Per Part 37.201 (a) of the US Code Title 49, if an intermediate or rest stop is made, a passenger with a disability,including an individual using a wheelchair, shall be permitted to leave and return to the bus on the same basis as other passengers.