The Mountain Express in Crested Butte is considering allowing dogs to encourage more people to ride the bus this summer. They are currently comparing other communities similar to Crested Butte that allow dogs on buses, such as Telluride, which tends to see more dog traffic on the bus during the summer than in the winter.

Mountain Express managing director Jeremy Herzog introduced a preliminary draft policy, which would require the following criteria:

1. Eligible dogs must be registered in Crested Butte & have valid proof of that registration

2. Owners must sign a waiver

3. Dogs must be on a leash &  wearing a soft muzzle

4. Drivers have the discretion to ask dog owners to wait for the next bus if it’s too crowded or unsafe & drivers have the right to refuse ridership to any dog posing a safety hazard

5. Dogs may not be given food or treats during the ride

6. Owners must be in control of their dogs & dogs must stay on the floor at all times

7. People visiting from out of town will also be required to register their dogs

So far, the biggest opposition has come from the bus drivers about having to police dog owners about the registration aspect, but Mountain Express may look into Quick Response (QR) codes at the bus stops, so owners can scan and register their dogs while waiting for the bus. Another concern is that if dogs have accidents on the bus, then owners, not bus drivers, should be held responsible for cleaning it up before getting off the bus. The board will continue to collect and review feedback from the community and bus drivers as they consider adopting a policy for dogs riding on the Mountain Express.

Walker, Kendra. “Mountain Express considering allowing dogs on the bus: Get your dog registered.” Crested Butte News [Crested Butte, CO], Vol. 61 No. 20, 28 May 2021, pp. 11.