Founded in 1979, Special Transit in Boulder, Colorado, focused on services in its first 15 years for people with limited mobility. In 1994, it opened up HOP, which was designed by the public for the entire public. HOP featured smaller, low-floor, propane-powered buses. Its drivers were asked to be community ambassadors. Ridership met its hoped-for quota in the fourth week of operation.

Since then, Boulder has launched Access-a-Ride and replicated its success in two other communities, Superior and Brighton. Call-n-Ride proved popular

The Easy Rider Program teaches seniors and people with disabilities how to safely use public transit. It provides one-on-one training on the use of fixed route and Call-n-Ride services.

Discussions have come up on the use of "special" in the program's title. "We have realized that the word special has many definitions--distinctive, exceptional, highly valued. We feel these words describe what we do," explained Lenna Kottke." (p. 16).

Today the system provides more than one million passenger trips with 90 vehicles.

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Kottke, L., & Wilson, B. (2004, Winter). Everyone's special. Community Transportation 222), 14-16.