Denver DNC transportation info, please?

[backscatter712]

I'm in a pretty good mood - I have my ticket to Obama's acceptance speech, and I'm likely to be attending some of the other events around the DNC (I'm not a delegate, though I understand there's gonna be parties and concerts and marches and DU meets & such in downtown Denver.

Transportation may be an issue for me. I do have a car, but large chunks of Denver's streets are going to be closed due to all the security, and on Thursday around Obama's speech, I-25 will be closed. Driving in that area's gonna be a circus. I'll probably have to figure out RTD, but I have no clue where to find routes and such so I can get there from the Northglenn area. Furthermore, I'm on crutches at the moment, nursing a foot with a sprained ankle and strained peroneal tendon, and while I've gotten used to the crutches and beefed up my arms a bit, I'm not inclined to join any 30 mile city-wide hikes.

I guess I'm trying to figure out where to go, what to do, and how to get there, while avoiding the biggest hassles...

[InternalDialogue]

1. Are you familiar with RTD's website?

In addition to maps, they have trip planners -- enter your origin and your destination and they calculate your route, giving you times and route numbers.

As far as being on crutches, they also have Access-a-ride if you meet ADA qualifications, plus Call-n-Ride, for curb-to-curb service.

www.rtd-denver.com

[backscatter712]

2. Cool, thanks!

Dunno if I qualify for Access-a-ride - I'm at least mostly mobile with my crutches, meaning I could hobble out to a bus stop and hobble aboard a bus.

I'll also have to figure out the routes, especially Park-n-ride routes - sounds like the quickest way from Northglenn to downtown is to drive to a Park-n-Ride and take a bus downtown. I hope the busses aren't too horribly busy.

[InternalDialogue]

3. I'm not a really regular user of RTD, because I walk almost everywhere.

But when I need a trip organized, I've found their trip-finder to be pretty simple. Every now and then it throws you a curve, but at least it gives you the route numbers that serve your needs -- just look at the big map to see if there are overlapping routes -- sometimes you can substitute one for the other.

And as far as Call-n-Ride goes, I can't vouch for the cost, but my neighbor uses them for door-to-door service when she needs to get to the airport. She's willing to pay a little more to have them show up, knock on her door at a particular time, and drop her off when she's home than waiting for the regularly scheduled airport buses, which stick to their routes only. If you're planning to come into downtown for the whole day, it might be worth it to get a special ride from your door to wherever you'd like to be dropped, then schedule another at the end of the day.

[librechik]

4. you will enjoy this, from The Hill: What to do at the Convention

Parties and events

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/whats-going-on-at-the-conventions-2008-08-15.html

Police presence is a pain in the ass--travel light--the light rail stops right at the Pepsi Center, and most events are within walking distance (puf puf--a stretch for some!) Bicycles are a problem for aome reason I don't understand--I heard a rumor they are banned, except for the certified convention bikes!
IS that for real? Who knows.

a couple concert things up at the Fillmore and The Turnverein on Colfax & Clarkson. (Take the #15 bus east from the Broadway Shuttle station) are must attends.