Youth Ride Free program lets students use transit for free Jun. 15 – Aug. 15
Summer is here and for students in SLO County, that means freedom. Once again, local transit operators have decided to welcome aboard all K-12 youth who ride the bus between June 15th and August 15th for free. Students simply present their school ID (when they’ve been issued one) and take any fixed route without having to pay cash fare. Rideshare’s partners in this great program include RTA, SLO Transit, South County Transit, Paso Express and Morro Bay Transit. Regular fares apply to Morro Bay and SLO Trolleys and Dial-A-Ride Services.
Students are invited to become the new county explorers on routes that provide safe daily transportation to many beach, wildlife, biking and recreational areas, libraries, historical sites and special events. Open seats are available to great places such as Hearst Castle and Hearst State Beach in San Simeon, the Cayucos Pier, Morro Bay Embarcadero, Cuesta College & El Chorro Regional Park, Madonna Plaza, Cal Poly, the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets, the Pismo Beach Pier, Allan Hancock College, the Santa Maria Town Center Mall, Santa Margarita, Atascadero’s new state of the art Galaxy Theatre and downtown Paso Robles.
Parents will also benefit from Youth Ride Free by saving money on gas and creating less wear and tear on their car. The program increases awareness of other public transit benefits, too, like reducing traffic congestion and contributing to a more sustainable planet and lifestyle. Youth Ride Free is a joint effort of SLO Regional Rideshare and participating transit operators to encourage a lifetime of healthy commuting habits.
Youth Ride Free was introduced in 2012 and provided 67,000 rides to county youth. More than 84,000 youth boarded buses county-wide in 2013. Due to the overwhelming popularity of this program, a policy for groups of ten or more has been implemented. The Group Policy is designed to address issues of overcrowding and bus etiquette. For more information on the group policies or to plan a trip by transit, please visit www.taketransit.org.
About San Luis Obispo Regional Rideshare
SLO Regional Rideshare is dedicated to reducing the number of single occupant vehicles on San Luis Obispo County’s roads and highways, conserving fuel, reducing air pollution and making it easier for commuters to get to work or school. A division of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, SLO Regional Rideshare provides programs for commuters, employers, youth, seniors and visitors.
About RTA
RTA is a JPA (Joint Powers Authority) in San Luis Obispo County that operates bus service, which connects cities throughout San Luis Obispo County (and beyond) including Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and more.
About South County Transit
South County Transit (SCT) offers three fixed routes year round providing service to the Five Cities area.
About SLO Transit
SLO Transit operates eight routes and transports over 1,200,000 riders annually on its fleet of 16 vehicles.
About Morro Bay Transit
Morro Bay Transit service offers one local fixed route year round and seasonal vintage trolleys with three routes throughout the City of Morro Bay.
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