The map below shows the location of each piece, with the first (left) by the southbound stop of bus routes 30/31 along Federal Blvd just south of the W 14th Ave intersection. The second piece (middle) is by the westbound stop of bus route 43 along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd just west of York St. The third piece (right) is by the westbound stop of bus route 16 along W Colfax Ave just west of Winona Ct.

The current system for distributing amenities is unfair. Many bus stops in wealthier neighborhoods have better facilities, while those in lower-income or historically disinvested areas are neglected. These inequities are due to:

• The disempowerment of marginalized communities who often rely on the bus
• Wealthier neighborhoods having the resources to advocate more loudly and consistently
• Decades of over-investment and other policy decisions that prioritize private cars over dignified public transportation options.

Because there are too many groups responsible for installation and maintenance, it is frustrating and confusing for community members to figure out who to contact to request amenities and report maintenance issues. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) only owns 300 of the 8,000 bus stops in the Denver metro area. The rest are managed by municipalities like the City of Denver, private property owners, and/or advertising agencies. Each group has different rules around what can be installed and where.

For example, a stop may consist of the pole in the ground that RTD owns, a shelter that an advertising agency has provided, all on top of property Denver owns. Because of this, each of these groups may push responsibility to the others, making it hard for anyone to advocate for improvements, let alone riders just trying to get where they need to go safely and with dignity. We need a fair and accessible system where one entity is responsible for providing and maintaining amenities at every stop, and it is easy to contact them to report issues.

All of the stops chosen for this project are used by many people to access local bus service, but have few, if any, essential amenities like shelters and seating. They’re also alongside major public roads, steps away from heavy car traffic moving at high speeds, making it dangerous and unhealthy to wait for the bus.

The art pieces installed at each location were created by the following artists:

Artist Adelina Gonzales stands in front of her art piece installed at Federal Boulevard and 14th Ave

Adelina Gonzales aka. “That 5280 Lady”

Bio:

Explore the imaginative and innovative artwork of Adelina Gonzalez, aka That5280Lady, a visual artist from Denver, Colorado, who identifies as two-spirit Indigenous. Through her skillful use of recycled materials like vinyl records, drum heads, and junk mail, she crafts captivating music-infused works. In addition to her focus on music, her art also delves into powerful human rights themes, reflecting her cultural heritage and advocacy for Indigenous rights, equality, and environmental justice.

Project:

As a regular public transportation user Adelina believes it is important to advocate for better access for all. She is excited to be a part of Waiting For Dignity to bring awareness to one of the busiest bus stops in her community.

Adelina’s piece is at the southbound “Decatur/Federal Station Gate F” bus stop at 14th Ave and Federal Blvd. This bus stop was chosen because getting to it requires bus users coming from or to the Decatur-Federal Station to cross a large and dangerous intersection with constant heavy car traffic, deafening noise, and air pollution. Even though it’s one of Denver’s most heavily used stops, there are no amenities at all. The owners of Avondale Liquors, the private property behind the bus stop, have graciously allowed us to install the piece at the edge of their parking lot.

Artist AJ Kiel sits in front of his art piece installed at MLK Jr Boulevard and York Street

AJ Kiel

Bio:

AJ is a fixture at Access Gallery, a nonprofit arts organization for people with disabilities, and is one of their most prolific and mobile artists. It is not unusual for AJ to travel 20 or more miles by bus any day. He seems to intuitively know bus routes, has a fascination with trains and will stop whatever he is doing when a large truck rolls past him. AJ creates wonderful characters from his imagination and his exploits around Denver. Often AJ includes his signature character in his illustrative artwork that has a “stoplight” head.

Project:

“This is where I catch the bus to get to Access Gallery. There is no protection from the rain, snow or the hot summer sun when I am waiting for the bus. My artwork is illustrations of people waiting for the bus including a wheelchair and a walker user, the sidewalk leading to the stop is narrow and not very accessible.”

If you see these at night, the woman in the orange dress with her walker and the girl holding her bus ticket wearing yellow are printed on reflective vinyl while the other three are not to emphasize how dangerous it can be when waiting for the bus after sundown.

AJ’s pieces are at the west-bound bus stop at MLK Blvd and York St. There is a bench, but nothing else permanently installed. The owner of the private property graciously allowed us to attach the pieces to the fence behind the bus stop.

Nicole Vanston

Bio:

“I make art because it’s important to me.” With this obsessive passion to create, Nicole has found an artistic voice that enables her to immerse people in her rich fantasy lands. Nicole is an artist with Access Gallery, a nonprofit arts organization for people with disabilities. We affectionately call her “Dragon Girl” not just because dragons often star in her work, but because they remind us of her: powerful, unique, and capable of anything. She creates art the way she lives her life: by reaching for the mythical. “It makes me feel good when I create my images and they look like the picture in my head.”

Project:

This is not my regular bus stop but I am excited to have my artwork here on west Colfax. My artwork depicts me standing and waiting for the bus carrying a heavy backpack filled with my art supplies and sketchbooks and pulling a rolling bag filled with more art supplies and my laptop. My bus stop by my house does not have a bench, covering or a trash can. If I miss my bus or it doesn’t show up I have to walk up a steep hill to catch a different line.

Nicole’s piece is at the west-bound bus stop at W Colfax Ave and Winona Ct. The owners of the lot allowed us to install it there.

Connect with us!

• Advocate with the Denver Streets Partnership through our monthly newsletter to make it easier to get around Denver without driving.
• Share your mobility stories with the Pedestrian Dignity project on social media or by using our submission form (video, photo, art, audio, poetry +). You can also subscribe on Substack.
• Access Gallery an inclusive nonprofit organization that engages the community by opening doors to creative, educational and economic opportunities for people with disabilities to access, experience and benefit from the arts.
• Connect with That5280Lady on socials, join her mailing list, or directly support her.
• Check out the Arts in Society Colorado Art Grant, which provides organizational and financial support for art projects to create positive social change all across Colorado.