16th Street Mall

RTD pays nearly 60 percent more per mile to power the 16th St. Free MallRide electric buses than its diesel buses. In California, two electric utilities changed their commercial pricing to encourage electric vehicle adoption, a model Xcel Energy could follow.

Pedestrians ignore a traffic light near Union Station because it prioritizes cars, even though people on foot far outnumber vehicles.

The 16th Street Mall will soon get a major renovation that will spruce up an iconic, but increasingly embarrassing part of Denver. The upgrade will make the 1.2-mile thoroughfare a better place to get around and a more enjoyable place to hang out.

The 16th Street Mall of 1982, when it opened, didn't really resemble the transitway and pedestrian strip we know today. A lot fewer bus shuttles ran up and down the street, and a lot fewer people walked it. The mall has to change to address Denver's growth. But 35 years later, it's still unclear exactly how.

Should RTD continue spending big bucks to maintain the aesthetically pleasing but functionally flawed surface of the transitway on the 16th Street Mall? Nostalgia says yes, but common sense says no.

The Downtown Denver Partnership, a business-oriented group that plays a major role in shaping the city’s urban center, announced its priorities for the upcoming year Wednesday morning. They included a “Downtown Loop” for people walking and biking, revamping the 16th Street Mall, and spurring walkable development in Arapahoe Square. The Partnership envisions a walking and … Continued

There are certainly reasons why Mayor Michael Hancock, Denver PD, and the Downtown Denver Partnership decided to up security on the 16th Street Mall. Violent criminals, like the man who was filmed rampaging through the 16th Street Mall hitting people with pipes Wednesday, threaten public safety on the mile-plus transit and pedestrian strip. Targeting criminals … Continued

As Mayor Michael Hancock and his Denver PD spend time and money harrying “urban travelers” off the 16th Street Mall in an attempt to improve perceptions of public safety, they continue to diminish the actual safety of people on bikes by allowing people to park in bike lanes — and by parking in bike lanes themselves. Extra Denver PD … Continued

Hoping to create a better gathering place, city planners are seriously considering moving RTD’s free shuttle off the 16th Street Mall to create a pedestrian-only street. The concept has drawn all kinds of reactions, some of which pit transit against walking. But it’s not that simple. If the city plays its cards right, three major streets could prioritize people and transit in … Continued