The new 16th Street isn't just about shopping and margaritas and takeout lunches for nearby office workers; it still must function like the old 16th Street, the asphalt and concrete strip that bears the weight of tourists and commuters and street people as they cross downtown.

A free RTD bus line has serviced 16th Street – the spine of downtown Denver – since its opening in 1982. Formerly the 16th Street MallRide, under the new branding it’s becoming the 16th Street FreeRide...although the signage on the buses has yet to transition.

The buses run every five to ten minutes, depending on time of day, starting at Civic Center Station at the street’s southeast tip near the State Capitol. It's clean enough inside the station, which offers a chilled respite on a hot weekday. The bathrooms

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