My Journey with First Mile Free
Guest post by student Joel Cox
When I started Steven Arnold’s Sustainable Transportation course (the very first class of my graduate program in Environmental Policy & Management) I wasn’t expecting an idea from week one to define much of the next two years of my life. The assignment was straightforward: propose a policy to improve transportation in Denver.
I’ve always learned best by doing, and I wanted something real to commit to, something that would give my studies structure and purpose beyond the classroom. So instead of writing a paper that would live and die on a hard drive, I set out to see if I could turn an idea into action.
The idea came from my own commute. I live about a mile from the University of Denver light rail station. On paper, it’s “walkable.” In reality, most days it’s not. Driving feels counterproductive, and while I could take a scooter or e-bike, the added cost on top of the transit fare makes it impractical. I quickly realized this wasn’t just my problem: about 75% of Denver residents live too far from transit to walk comfortably. It’s called the first/last mile challenge, and it keeps people off buses and trains every single day.
Instead of proposing another expensive shuttle service, I asked: What’s the simplest, most cost-effective way to close that gap? That question led to First Mile Free, a program that covers the first mile of any e-bike or scooter trip that ends at a transit station. No applications, no eligibility tests. Just hop on, park at transit, and the discount applies instantly.
The Advocacy Journey
The path from classroom idea to city pilot wasn’t a straight line. It unfolded in stages, each with its own challenges.
It began with research. At first, it was just homework. I dug into ridership data, emissions numbers, and examples from other cities. Then came the hallway pitch phase, where I cornered city officials and explained the idea, often getting skeptical looks like I was selling insurance.
From there I moved into pitching agencies. City staff liked the concept, but the answer was always the same: we don’t have money. That pushed me into the grassroots phase. I started running public surveys, presenting to nonprofits, and building a case that this wasn’t just one student’s idea, it was a community-backed solution.
Eventually, the momentum gave me the confidence to apply for a grant. That’s when I hit a wall: I needed a transportation management association (TMA) to be the lead applicant. It felt like the whole effort might collapse. But then Mike Hughes at West Corridor TMA stepped in. He didn’t just sign on, he believed in the project, sharpened the proposal, and carried it over the finish line. Support from partners like Zach Williams at Lime, and backing from Lime and Bird, made all the difference.
The final phase was the hardest: waiting. After pouring months of work into the grant, there was nothing to do but hold my breath and hope.
And then, one day, the email came: First Mile Free had been funded.
What’s Launching in 2026
In early 2026, First Mile Free will officially launch at two stations: University of Denver and Decatur–Federal. We chose these sites based on public need, but for me, it is especially meaningful that DU’s own station is one of them.
The University station is the closest light rail stop to campus, connecting students, faculty, and staff to the wider city. Many in the DU community rely on transit every day, yet because the surrounding neighborhood is seen as higher income, it rarely qualifies for subsidies. The second site, Decatur–Federal, serves Sun Valley, one of Denver’s most underserved neighborhoods where many families live without access to cars. Including both stations was intentional: they represent very different communities, but both face the same challenge of being just a little too far from transit to make it practical.
Over two years, backed by nearly $190,000 in combined funding from Denver Regional Transit (RTD), Lime, and Bird, the pilot will subsidize about 40,000 trips. Riders will save money, RTD will gain new users, and greenhouse gas emissions will drop by an estimated 65 percent per ride compared to driving.
Lessons From the Journey
I learned a lot through this process, and I’d encourage other students to take their own ideas seriously. You don’t need a title or official role to make an impact; you just need persistence and curiosity. Here are three lessons I took away that might help others who want to turn a classroom project into something real.
- Commit early and refuse to let your ideas fade when the semester ends. I decided from the start that First Mile Free wouldn’t just be homework. It would be something I carried forward until it became real. That commitment gave my grad school experience focus and direction.
- Have faith in the promise of your idea. Too often, grants go to the same recycled proposals. What funders are really looking for are fresh, practical ideas, and those can come from students just as much as established organizations. If I had counted myself out, this program never would have gotten off the ground.
- Approach the work with curiosity. Don’t tie success only to getting something implemented. Instead, commit to doing everything you can to move your initiative forward while also seeking to learn how local processes work along the way. That mindset turned setbacks into lessons, and lessons into momentum.
And even if public advocacy isn’t your thing, I hope you take something from this story. At the very least, know that if you’re around campus in early 2026, you can snag a free ride straight to the DU station.