by Sarah Brooks

Grand Valley Transit (GVT) is the local bus system in Mesa County, serving Grand Junction, Fruita, Clifton, and Palisade.  GVT operates 11 routes in Mesa County with service Monday-Saturday, except on holidays. Though buses run on a schedule, the SPOT app also shows the real-time location of buses so you can know exactly where it is.

GVT is a great community service connecting people with employment centers, shopping, and activities. It benefits all residents of the Grand Valley as well as visitors.

FAMILIES
Many popular activity destinations are serviced by GVT, with stops at places for families and kids such as the local library, neighborhood parks, swimming pools, movie theaters, museums, recreation centers, and even some sections of the Colorado Riverfront Trail.  For a list of activities near GVT bus routes, click here.

YOUNG ADULTS
GVT can help young adults get active. Teens looking for some independence can easily hop on the bus and head out for a day full of activity.  GVT can offer flexibility to youth looking for a little less structure in their schedule during their summer days.  Visit the library one day, then and grab an ice cream cone and catch a movie with friends another.  You can even get to activities or summer camps using GVT.  “I will probably take the bus most days to ride from my house to the bus stop near the Grand Junction Business Incubator for my robotics classes,” Quinn Brosig, a local teen, told us about his transit plans this summer.  GVT offers a great alternative to asking parents for a ride and is affordable with monthly student passes, daily passes, and cash fare options.

SENIORS
The bus is also great for seniors, allowing them to run errands, participate in local activities, or catch up with friends over a cup of coffee.  In May, a group of seniors from the River City Singles participated in a GVT Learn to Ride Class. The group of 11 seniors started at the GVT office on south 6^th Street with a short Learn to Ride presentation, which teaches the basics of riding.  After the presentation, the group went on a field trip riding the bus to Fruita for lunch.

EVERYONE
GVT is a safe, affordable mode of transportation for everyone. 

The newest addition to GVT is the Dash, a free service operating on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 4:15 PM -12:15 AM.  The Dash runs along Route 1 with stops along Main Street, 12^th Street, the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) campus, Horizon Drive, and the Grand Junction Regional Airport.  The Dash was created to connect tourists, students, and locals to the community. Locals can easily visit the downtown area for dinner and then hop on the Dash to head over to Suplizio Field and Stocker Stadium to catch a Grand Junction Rockies or CMU athletics event.  The new service launched in March of 2019 and since Dash kicked off, many locals and visitors have used the free service to attend downtown events and visit local eateries.

LEARN TO RIDE
Although riding the bus is easy, Travel Training sessions are available to the public for free.  Classes are offered by the Regional Transportation & Planning Office through CDOT grant funding.  Scheduled training includes information on fare boxes, buying tickets and passes, trip planning, reading bus schedules, locating bus stops and transfer facilities, loading a bike on the bus, and using the SPOT Mobile App.  Each training also features a trip on the bus, and the bus ride is free during the class.

Upcoming Travel Training Classes –

Senior Riders & Senior Services: Thursday, July 11, 2019, at 9:30 AM at the Central Branch Library.  The field trip will include a trip to the Fruita Community Center to learn about Silver Sneakers, a fitness program available to seniors through health care plans.  All participants will also get a free day pass to the Community Center to use on July 11 during their Learn to Ride field Trip, if you’re interested you can register here.

GVT for Families:  Another session, designed for families, will take place on July 22, 2019, starting at the Clifton Library at 10:00 AM.  The field trip will include a trip to Lincoln Park to play in the free Splash Pad.  Register through Mesa County Public Libraries.

MORE INFORMATION

Follow us on Instagram (@mobilemesacounty) for all things mobility in Mesa County.  Locals and visitors are encouraged to share how they get around the Grand Valley by using #mobilemesacounty. For more information visit www.gvt.mesacounty.us.

Download the app to track your bus by searching for ‘ETA SPOT’ in your app store or visit www.gvteta.com to see routes and bus location.

Sarah Brooks, a Grand Valley native, is the new Mobility Manager for the Mesa County Regional Transportation & Planning Office.  In the role of Mobility Manager, Sarah will be out in the community raising awareness about all things mobility in Mesa County from riding the bus, GVT services, the Dash, commuter safety, safe routes to school, bike and pedestrian safety, connector routes, and various modes of public transportation.  Sarah also coordinates all Learn to Ride classes and is available to offer assistance with trip planning for individuals wanting to learn more about other bus services on the Western Slope. Groups or businesses interested in offering a Travel Training class can contact Sarah Brooks, Mobility Manager at sarah.brooks@mesacounty.us.