Planning to take a Lyft or Uber home from a Rockies game? Pay extra attention to where you’re meeting your driver.
Starting Friday, Denver is adding designated rideshare pickup locations to the city’s Lower Downtown and Ballpark District areas during late-night hours, the Denver Police Department said in a news release.
In partnership with the two rideshare companies, the Denver Police Department will have specific areas where drivers must pick up passengers on Friday and Saturday evenings, the release stated.
Between the boundaries of 18th and 21st streets and Blake and Larimer streets, Uber and Lyft drivers will not be allowed to pick up or drop off riders between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, police said. Instead, they will be directed to designated pickup locations where Denver police officers will be stationed to ensure smooth traffic flow to increase security for those awaiting rides.
“Our goal is to have some consistency with the location of the pickup zones, but the locations can vary,” Doug Schepman, the Denver Police Department’s communications director, said in an emailed statement to the Denver Post. “The rideshare apps will let the rider know where to meet the driver.”
Rideshare pickup zone signs will be placed at each designated pickup location for the night, and typical street parking at meters will be closed off to create more space for drivers to park and pick up riders, police said in the release.
The pickup spots are part of the Denver Police Department’s and Mayor Mike Johnston’s goal of reducing gun violence by 20%, the release stated.
The plan’s goals include:
Reducing the amount of vehicular traffic congestion during peak bar hours to improve pedestrian safety.
Dispersing crowds more effectively during bar out-crowd hours to reduce conflicts that can escalate to violence.
Providing improved and streamlined access for rideshare pickup and dropoff in the LoDo and Ballpark District areas during peak bar hours.
Reducing impaired driving and DUI-related crashes during peak bar hours.
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To reduce heavy traffic in the area, the Denver Police Department, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Regional Transportation District are also encouraging people to use public transportation.
RTD said it offers an all-day travel pass for $5.50 — or $2.70 for seniors, individuals with disabilities and other eligible customers.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the last trains of the night leave Union Station at:
A Line to the Denver Airport Station: 1 a.m.
B Line to Westminster Station: 11:09 p.m.
D Line to Littleton-Mineral Station: 1:49 a.m.
E Line to RidgeGate Parkway Station: 1:55 a.m.
G Line to Wheat Ridge Ward Station: 12:01 a.m.
H Line to Florida Station: 1:25 a.m.
N Line to Eastlake & 124th Station: 10:13 p.m.
W Line to Jefferson County Government Center-Golden Station: 1:52 a.m.
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