Aurora seniors can now plan their rides nearly a week in advance. As of Monday, the city's free microtransit service for adults 60 and older, Aurora Rides, expanded its booking window so riders can reserve trips up to six days ahead of time or as little as four hours before pickup, rather than relying solely on immediate, on-demand requests.
From Soft Launch to Scheduled Rides
The change marks the latest evolution of a pilot program that first debuted quietly in December 2025 through a partnership between the City of Aurora, mobility technology company Via, and the Regional Transportation District, according to Via Transportation. As reported by Sentinel Colorado, the free service is available through the Aurora Rides app on Apple and Android devices, and rides can also be booked by phone at 720-881-0197.
Aurora Rides connects older adults to medical appointments, errands, and social events, the outlet reports, and offers wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The service area covers most of the region west of Interstate 225 to Aurora's western city boundary, including stops at senior communities like Heather Gardens and St. Andrews Village. Riders and city staff can find scheduling details through the app or at city.ridewithvia.com/aurora.
City Fine-Tuned Hours Based on Demand
Before the September prebooking update, Aurora had already adjusted the program once this year. Effective June 1, the city shifted Aurora Rides' operating schedule to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, moving the hours forward by an hour based on observed customer demand patterns, according to the City of Aurora. The pilot's operating hours remain the same under the new prebooking system, with the added flexibility now built around when riders want to travel rather than only when they call.
The program traces back to Aurora City Council Member Angela Lawson, who sponsored and championed the microtransit pilot as a targeted effort to improve transit access for older residents, Via Transportation notes. Lawson worked with RTD and Via to secure the grant funding that underwrites the free rides, and Via describes the pilot as grant-funded from its inception.
A County Growing Older, Fast
The push for senior-focused transit comes as Arapahoe County's population continues to age rapidly. Projections from Colorado's State Demography Office show adults 65 and older will make up 17.9% of the county's population by 2030, up from 14.4% in 2021, according to Sentinel Colorado. Statewide, the trend is even more pronounced: the share of Coloradans aged 60 and older rose from 13% in 2005 to 22% in 2023, per the Colorado State Demography Office.
The city has woven Aurora Rides into a broader network of senior support services. That system includes Food Bank of the Rockies' Evergreen Boxes and Volunteers of America hot lunch programs, both hosted at the Aurora Center for Active Adults, according to the City of Aurora. Local recreation centers are key destinations for many riders.
Part of a Wider Microtransit Push
Aurora Rides isn't the only targeted microtransit option in the city. The Majestic Commuter shuttle, run by Northeast Transportation Connections, links workers between RTD's 40th and Airport rail station and nearby industrial employers, according to the City of Aurora. City officials describe these microtransit vans as complements to fixed-route RTD bus lines rather than replacements for them.
Other Denver-area transit agencies have been adjusting their own demand-responsive rules this year. The Regional Transportation District implemented a systemwide no-show policy across its FlexRide microtransit network in February, requiring riders to cancel reservations at least two hours in advance to keep vehicles running efficiently, per the Regional Transportation District. Via also operates similar on-demand services elsewhere in the suburbs, including Douglas County's Link On Demand program serving Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker, according to the Town of Castle Rock.
For now, Aurora Rides remains a pilot, and questions remain about how long its grant funding will last and whether demand could push the city to expand service east of I-225. Riders looking to take advantage of the new prebooking window can reach the service through the app or by calling the Aurora Rides line.
