Denver is testing whether cheaper scooter and e-bike rides can help people reach public transit, with a two-year pilot offering a $2.95 discount on eligible Veo trips ending at two RTD stations. The First Mile Free program began Oct. 1 at the University of Denver and Knox stations. The fare reduction is applied automatically to qualifying trips; it is not necessarily a free ride, depending on the trip’s cost. Organizers will compare trips ending at the stations with Veo’s existing records and historical city data, and survey riders about whether the discount affected their decision to use transit. The effort is also intended to encourage riders to travel to stations rather than ride scooters on sidewalks. The pilot is supported by an RTD grant of nearly $123,000 and more than $65,000 from Veo. Founder Joel Cox, who is also running for Denver City Council in District 6, described it as the first pilot of its kind in the country. The two locations offer different ways to assess who benefits. The University of Denver serves students, employees and nearby neighborhoods that are comparatively affluent. Organizers selected Knox in West Denver to reach riders who may not already qualify for free trips through Veo’s low-income program. The test follows a broader city effort to make shared scooters and e-bikes more available beyond central Denver. Research examining policies in 13 U.S. cities found significant increases in scooter availability in Denver and Baltimore. In targeted Denver areas, the policies added an estimated 70 scooters per square kilometer, narrowing the availability gap with central neighborhoods by about 85%. If the pilot shows that the discount changes travel behavior, organizers hope to expand it to additional RTD stations and potentially across the city.