RTD’s safety concerns

Re: “RTD tightens rules, expands policing... ,” May 5 commentary

It is not RTD’s job to provide housing for the poor. Nobody will object if homeless people need to ride somewhere. Allowing people to make the buses and trains their home is another thing. Maybe Andy Bosselman should make his home and car available for the homeless.

Mark Itkonen, Littleton

There’s been a lot of talk about RTD’s recently revised Code of Conduct, which is intended to set forth rules prohibiting certain conduct that may adversely affect RTD’s ability to provide safe, clean, reliable transit service. Unfortunately, even after RTD staff spent significant time sharing information and context with Andy Bosselman, he left key points out of his column.

The effort to revise the code began long before COVID-19 due to an increase in inappropriate, unsafe, unlawful behavior across the RTD system. These safety concerns have been exacerbated by rear-door boarding and suspended fare collection to help prevent the spread of the virus. With more people using our system for shelter, RTD has seen a significant increase in vandalism to our vehicles and assaults on our operators. Our operators and people using RTD’s system for its intended purpose have rights, too, and if they are being subjected to intimidating or unsafe behavior, RTD has an obligation to do something about it.

The Code sets clear expectations for everyone and is in place to deal with bad behavior by anyone – regardless of background or appearance.

In addition, the agency is trying to make it easier for those in need to hop on board with last year’s launch of LiVE, our income-based fare discount program, and enrollment continues to rise. We just expect all riders — regardless of income level — to behave appropriately. Because catching a safe, clean ride is everyone’s right.

Pauletta Tonilas, Denver Editor’s note: Tonilas is RTD’s assistant general manager of communications.