For nearly 50 years, transit service in Denver has been dictated by RTD, a regional agency where the city plays second fiddle to its suburbs. That could finally change with the Denveright initiative — which aims to rethink bus and rail service with the city proper as the focal point.

Mayor Michael Hancock has said that Denver residents will play a major role in developing the city’s blueprint for better transit over the next 18 months. Two local organizations want to ensure the public can make informed, effective contributions to the plan, so they’ve started a book club for people committed to improving Denver transit.

The Transit Alliance and the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation‘s Transportation Committee invite you to the first meeting of the book club Wednesday night from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Brik on York, 2223 E. Colfax Ave.

The first book on their agenda is Jarrett Walker’s “Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking About Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives.” (Incidentally, Walker is one of several consultants on Denver’s transit plan, and the keynote speaker at the Transit Alliance 6th Annual Transit Event in November.)

Walker’s book is all about creating what he calls “liberating” transit — systems that people can use to get wherever they want to go in their city, without worrying about things like whether the bus will still be running when they head home for the day. Check out Walker’s blog for the full spectrum of his expertise.

Walker’s book is a perfect manual for civically engaged residents to use during the Denveright process, says Jamie Perkins, Transit Alliance’s program manager.

“He writes a lot about designing a system around people, around people’s behavior, and what people need,” Perkins said.

How can Denver transit help liberate people from being tethered to their cars? Will buses and trains continue to funnel people downtown, or will the transit network evolve to connect people to a wider variety of destinations? These are some questions the Denveright process will have to address, and “Human Transit” can help.

“Transit Alliance events and our educational programming is made so that people can have discussions about things that are ultimately really emotional in nature,” Perkins said. “When we’re talking about how we get around and how we plan our cities, that’s a venue for a lot of different emotions and we make a place where people can safely share those.”

You don’t have to read the book before the meeting tomorrow night to participate. Transit Alliance and the INC Transportation Committee will have copies available to lend. There are only so many, though, so email jperkins@transitalliance.org if you’re interested in borrowing one.

After tomorrow, two more meetings are on tap for October 4 and October 18. If the club proves popular, more sessions may follow.