Submitted by Steve Mohan, who says:

RTD just began Service on the Flatiron Flyer, which is a basically a rebranding of all the Denver-Boulder routes.  As part of this, they updated the timetables system-wide to include a map of the route. Because they’re selling this as BRT, they’ve added this rail-like route map.

Personally, I like it. It’s simple and easy to read. The color coding of each route corresponds to the color of the text in the timetable.

Although the map is very simplified, it does a good job of showing the general routes – including the NW/SE route of US36. The one thing I don’t like is how it shows routes 4/6 going along the same route, as the FF6 deviates through a nearby business park.

I think it’s fit for purpose and one of RTD’s better efforts, but I’m curious as to your thoughts.

Transit Maps says:

RTD may be trying to sell this as BRT, but don’t be fooled by the hype. Because the buses travel in the High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on US 36 with general traffic, rather than having dedicated lanes, the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy has rated it as “Not BRT”. Personally, I think “express bus” would be a better indication of the service.

Anyway, on to the map! I’d agree with most of Steve’s points: the map provides a good overview of the six new routes and has a nice, dynamic feel to it because of the angled main trunk (representing the US 36 section). The colour-coding works well and is carried across all media (schedules, website, etc.). I don’t necessarily mind the FF4 and FF6 following the same path on this very simplified overview map, as the extra “local stop” dots on the FF6 indicate the difference in the routes.

Now, if it had been up to me to designate the route numbers, I would have made the current FF5 into FF3, moving FF3 and FF4 up to a new FF4 and FF5, respectively. This would logically group all the northern termini together on the map: FF1 through FF3 going to Boulder, FF4 being the short turn-around route on US 36 (making a nice visual delineation between the two northern endpoints), with FF5 and FF6 going to Boulder Junction. The only drawback with this would be that the new FF3 would have to cross over three route lines at the southern end of the map, but I think the payoff would have been worth it.

Our rating: A solid overview map of a new and potentially confusing system (the six Flyer routes seem to replace nine old US 36 bus routes). Nothing flashy, but it looks modern, dynamic and direct – everything you want out of a BRT express bus service. Three stars.