UNIO

N S TAT I O N

T R A V E L by TR A I N

DOWNTOWN DENVER:
THE WAY WE MOVE
PRODUCED BY:

R E S U LT S O F T H E 2 0 1 6
D OW N TOW N D E N V E R C O M M U T E R S U R V E Y

METHODOLOGY
02
03
04
05
06

The Downtown Denver Partnership solicited

responses to the 10th annual Downtown Denver
Commuter Survey in September and early October
of 2016. A total of 8,603 individuals completed the
survey. After removing invalid responses and
sampling to correct for an overbalance of
responses from one single employer, there were
7,547 total valid responses, which represents
6.1% of the total employee population in
Downtown Denver. For a detailed methodology,
including limitations and sources, please visit:
W W W . D O W N T O W N D E N V E R . C O M

01 mode split
02 age/gender
03 commuter length
04 employer benefits
05 home zip code
06 yearly trends
07 commuting attitudes
08 commuter values

01 MODE SPLIT
The Downtown Denver Partnership measures how Downtown employees get to work as a way to help ensure that Downtown Denver
has convenient, attractive, affordable and safe mobility choices for employees, visitors, residents and students. Our goal is to increase
the number of commuters choosing to bike, walk and take transit while reducing the number of people who drive alone to under 35%
by 2021. These goals are designed to help reduce parking demand and increase development opportunities while enhancing
Downtown Denver's public realm and pedestrian environment.

DROVE ALONE

40.3%

USED TRANSIT

39.6%

BICYCLED

6.6%

WALKED

5.2%

CARPOOLED

4.7%

TELECOMMUTED

2.1%

MOTORBIKED

1.0%

UBER/LYFT/TAXI

0.5%

VANPOOLED

0.1%

Avg.
Commute
(miles)

8.3
20% biked 35% transit
26% drove 11% walked

8% biked 42% transit

31% drove 11% walked

Avg.
Commute
(miles)

12.8

30-49

Downtown Denver is home to a diverse community of

workers, and the way people choose to get to work is
influenced by their age and gender. Younger male
commuters are more likely to bike and walk, while
females in their 30s and 40s are more likely to drive
alone. Transit use increases among older commuters.
By understanding how age and gender influence
commuting choices, the Downtown Denver Partnership
can best advocate for transportation infrastructure and
policy solutions to make Downtown Denver the most
attractive employment location in the region and nation.

FEMALE

11% biked 39% transit

36% drove 5% walked

4% biked 35% transit

47% drove 4% walked

Avg.
Commute
(miles)

OVER 49

02 AGE/GENDER

UNDER 30

MALE

15.9
5% biked 46% transit
37% drove 4% walked

1% biked 48% transit

42% drove 2% walked

40%

40%

RS
TE

SH
OR

UTERS VS.
COMM
ALL
CE
N
CO
A
T
MM
S
DI
U
40%
35%
30%

19%

20%

18%

15%

Often, the length of a commute into Downtown Denver dictates the

number of transportation options available to the commuter and
ultimately, what mode is used. Commuters who walk and ride their
bikes have the shortest commutes, while commuters who take transit
and ride in a vanpool have the longest commutes. Curiously, among the
group of commuters of who have a commute of five miles or less, 30%
still drive alone to work, despite having more options than
longer-distance commuters. However, these short distance commuters
are much more likely to walk and bike than the average Downtown
Denver commuter.

25%

24%

Mode Split

03 COMMUTE LENGTH

30%

10%
7%

5%

5%
0%

Bike

Drive Alone

Transit

Commutes of 5 Mile or Less

Walk

All Commuters

AVERAGE ONE-WAY COMMUTE LENGTH

WALKED

1 MILE

LYFT/TAXI/UBER

3 MILES

BIKED

4 MILES

CARPOOLED

13 MILES

DROVE ALONE

14 MILES

USED TRANSIT

15 MILES

VANPOOLED

49 MILES

ALL MODES AVG.

13 MILES

04 EMPLOYER BENEFITS
Downtown Denver employees place a higher value on a transit pass than a parking space. In fact, 87% of employees rate a
transit pass as a very valuable or valuable employer-provided benefit. Transit passes are also the most common
employer-provided transportation benefit with 68% of Downtown Denver employees receiving a fully or partially subsidized
transit pass. Additionally, a transit pass is significantly cheaper for employers to provide than a parking space.

68% OF EMPLOYEES

37% OF EMPLOYEES

87% of employees
value this benefit

76% of employees
value this benefit

48% of employees
value this benefit

EST. COST $35-171/MONTH*

EST. COST $180-250/MONTH

EST. COST $0-25/MONTH

RECEIVE A SUBSIDIZED
TRANSIT PASS FROM
THEIR EMPLOYER

RECEIVE A SUBSIDIZED
PARKING SPACE
FROM THEIR EMPLOYER

42% OF EMPLOYEES
RECEIVE SECURE
BIKE PARKING FROM
THEIR EMPLOYER

*based on RTD corporate pass program (regional pass/eco pass)

VALUE OF BENEFITS

Employer-provided transportation benefits directly impact which mode employees decide to use when commuting to work.
When employers provide transit passes, employees are more likely to use transit and when employers provide parking spaces,
employees are more likely to drive to work. Offering secure bike parking also makes an impact, increasing the number of
employee who commute by bike.

INFLUENCE OF BENEFITS
IF EMPLOYER PAYS FOR
TRANSIT, EMPLOYEE IS

67%
MORE LIKELY TO
USE TRANSIT

RTD
2016

IF EMPLOYER PAYS FOR

PARKING, EMPLOYEE IS

28%

88%

LESS LIKELY TO
DRIVE ALONE

MORE LIKELY TO
DRIVE ALONE

44%
P
PA R K I N G

LESS LIKELY TO
USE TRANSIT

80027

80020

80021

I-76
US36

80403

80238

80211

I-70

80205
80401

80214

80204

The Downtown Denver Partnership advocates for

investment in high-quality transit, bike and pedestrian
infrastructure in order to ensure that Downtown Denver
commuters have a variety of transportation options for their
commute. For example, For example, despite still having
high drive alone rates, transit use among Stapleton
residents commuting to Downtown Denver has increased
from 5% in 2015 to 30% in 2016, which may be attributed to
the recent opening of RTDs University of Colorado A Line.

US6

80202
80223

05 HOME ZIP CODES

80218
80203

80227

I-25

80128
80129

80020
80021
80027
80128
80129
80202

Broomfield
Broomfield
Superior
Littleton/Ken Caryl
Littleton
Downtown Denver

80203
80204
80205
80211
80214
80218

Capitol Hill
Auraria/Golden Triangle/Lincoln Park
Five Points/Whittier/Cole/Clayton
Highland
Edgewater/Wheat Ridge
Cheesman Park/City Park West

80223
80227
80238
80401
80403

Baker/Athmar Park
Lakewood
Stapleton
Golden
Golden

TOP ZIPS
FOR TRANSIT

TOP ZIPS FOR

DRIVING ALONE

TOP ZIPS
FOR BIKING

TOP ZIPS
FOR WALKING

TOP ZIPS FOR

BIKING/WALKING

50%

50%

40%

40%

06 YEARLY TRENDS

30%

2016 marks the first year that the number of drive alone
commuters surpassed the number of commuters taking

20%transit to work in Downtown Denver. The number of bicycle

commuters remained consistent with 2015 and the
percentage of commuters walking to work decreased
10%slightly. To ensure we reach our multi-modal
transportation goals, the Downtown Denver Partnership

30%

20%

10%

will continue to advocate for a robust and visionary mobility

network that enhances transportation options for all users.

0%

07 YEARLY TRENDS
Different types of commuters make different choices when
deciding which mode to choose. Age and Gender are two of
the main drivers of commute choice. Younger commuters
are more likely to bike and walk, while females in their 30s
and 40s are more likely to drive alone, many times due to
child care responsibilities. Finally, transit use increases in
older commuters. It is important to understand how age
and gender influences commute choice as we look at
policy solutions to get people out of their cars.

0%
2013

2013

2014

used transit drove alone

2015

bicycled

2016

walked

2013

2013

2014

used transit drove alone

2015

bicycled

2016

walked

07 COMMUTE ATTITUDES
This year, we wanted to explore more than just how Downtown Denver commuters are getting to work. By asking questions about
commuting attitudes, we have a better understanding of how commuters perceive certain modes, what options commuters are
open to, and how improvements would influence mode choice.

89%
74%
of commuters who
regularly drive alone to
work are willing to try
other ways to get to work.

of transit commuters feel

transit is a convenient form of
transportation to Downtown
Denver, with only 71% of
drivers feeling that
driving alone is
convenient.

57%
57%
of commuters who
regularly drive alone
would take transit to work
if the service was faster
or more frequent.

of commuters who live within

5 miles of Downtown Denver
worry about being hit by a
motor vehicle while bicycling
to Downtown Denver.

41%
of commuters who drive
alone to work in Downtown
Denver would rather not
drive to work but feel they
do not have any other
good options.

08 COMMUTER VALUES
When you think about your commuting experience, what do you value most? The time it takes or how much it costs? Fitting in your workout
or making your commute less stressful? The Downtown Denver Partnership recognizes that individual values will impact commuting
choices, including changing commuting patterns from one day to the next, and we understand that building a premier multi-modal
network is the best way to address the commuting needs and values of all users.

CONVENIENCE

COST

76% of full-time employees

see their commute as a time
to relax, while 24% see it as
a time to be productive.

Monthly parking spaces in

Downtown Denver can cost
anywhere between $150 to
over $200 per month.

Listening to music/audio
books while commuting to
work can support ongoing
learning and development.

The average cost of an

EcoPass for a Downtown
Denver employee is just under
$40 per month, per employee.

1-in-3 commuters
nationally have conference
calls while using transit.

A mid-range commuter
bicycle costs between
$330-$600.

TIME
The average Downtown
Denver commuter who drives
alone to work spends 52 to
110 minutes in the car per
day, which equates to 4-9
hours per week!
Door-to-door commuting
times from 44th & Tennyson
are approximately 20 minutes
by car, 30 minutes by transit
and 30 minutes by bike.

HEALTH
Walking to work or
incorporating walking as part
of a commute lowers the risk
of high blood pressure.
Transit users fit in an
average of 19 extra minutes of
walking daily getting to and
from transit stops and stations.
Bicycling to work can burn an
estimated 200-300 calories in
just 30 minutes.

MOVING FORWARD
The Downtown Denver Partnership is committed to creating a robust and
visionary mobility network in Downtown Denver that enhances
transportation options for all users, connects Downtown Denver with
surrounding center city neighborhoods and strengthens Downtown
Denver's economic development opportunities by ensuring seamless
regional connections. The Downtown Denver Commuter Survey measures
our progress to create a connected Downtown and educates the community
about mobility options, projects, programs and policies.

FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Downtown Denver Partnership
303-534-6161
www.downtowndenver.com

PUBLISHED
JAN. 2017 BY:
WITH SUPPORT
FROM: