Ten years ago, a purple-and-gold bus pulled out of the station for the very first Bustang trip, heading from Denver to Fort Collins. That day marked the beginning of a new way to get around Colorado — one that’s been gaining fans ever since. 
Fast forward to today, and Bustang has given nearly 2.1 million rides, connecting cities, small towns, ski slopes, national parks and everything in between. What started in 2015 with just three weekday routes to Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Glenwood Springs has grown into a 20-route network reaching all four corners of the state.
Governor Jared Polis joined the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Bustang team to mark the big milestone. “Over the past decade, Bustang has significantly increased ridership and grown its reach — providing access to more destinations for both residents and visitors,” Polis said. “This past year alone, Bustang served almost four times its initial customer base, helping to reduce traffic congestion, especially in busy areas like the I-70 mountain corridor.”
The numbers back it up: annual ridership climbed from 103,000 in the first year to 351,000 this past year. That growth has spurred CDOT to build mobility hubs along major travel corridors, making it easier for riders to hop on and off and connect with other transportation options.
CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said Bustang works for all kinds of riders. “From commuters along I-25 to travelers heading to the mountains in winter, Bustang gives Coloradans more choices,” Lew said. “It’s a model for how transit can work across both urban and rural areas.”
Bustang has also added special services over the years, including Bustang to Broncos, Snowstang for ski season, Pegasus shuttle vans between Denver and Avon, and the Bustang Outrider network that links smaller communities to larger transit systems. Even during the pandemic, when ridership dipped, the system kept expanding.
From football games to powder days, daily commutes to weekend escapes, Bustang has become part of Colorado’s travel story — and the next chapter is already rolling down the road. Learn more about the routes and buy tickets on www.RideBustang.com.