16th Street Mall (I.M. Pei) and MallRide tourist jokes

The 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver was designed by architect I.M. Pei and opened in 1982 as a pedestrian-oriented commercial corridor. A free shuttle (the MallRide) runs the length of the mall and locals frequently joke about tourists clustering on the benches and shuttle stops along the corridor. The mall's string of shops, restaurants, and public seating areas make it a common punchline in conversations about downtown tourism.