Ride On now offers free rides for seniors and persons with disabilities.
Monday marked the first day that Montgomery County residents aged 65 and up or with disabilities could take advantage of a new, free transportation option on the county bus line.
Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan made the decision last week, saying in a news release that he initiated the program to make it even easier for citizens to get around the county.
“The new Ride On free ride program … expands transportation options for seniors and persons with disabilities at this time of skyrocketing gasoline prices,” he said. “Now, Ride On will be even more accessible to more people.”
From now on, both groups can take Ride On routes for free Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. so long as they can show proper ID.
Tom Pogue, community relations manager for the county’s Department of Public Works and Transportation, said the service will be paid for with tax revenues.
“It’s funding that was appropriated by the County Council to make up for the revenue losses from those riders,” he said. “They set $125,000 for the division of transit services and $125,000 to be paid over to Metro.”
According to Pogue, the complimentary ride service is not currently available on Metrobus buses that operate in Montgomery. But Metro is expected to add the new service by the fall.
Formerly, seniors who possessed Metro Senior Reduced Fare identification cards and people with disabilities with Metro Disabled identification cards could pay a discounted rate of 60 cents each way on Ride On buses, versus $1.25 for all other riders.
Transit figures show that Ride On has experienced steady growth over the past two years. For 25 consecutive months ridership has been higher than that month the previous year. Ridership now is nearly 20 percent higher than it was in 2004. The system is projected to carry more than 27 million passenger trips by the end of this year.
OTHER FREE RIDERS
Who else gets discounted or complimentary service on Ride On?
» Since 2000, school-age children have been able to take the county buses free of charge between 2 and 7 p.m. during the week.
» Starting in 2004, college students haven’t had to pay a fare when they board, but a small fee comes out of their tuition fees to go toward this program.
» Montgomery County employees can also take advantage of cost-free rides on Ride On, a change that was made two years ago.
