Kids Ride Free Program Generates Ridership Among Students

The Kids Ride Free Program in Montgomery County has led to a growth in ridership among students.  

At-large Montgomery County Council member Evan Glass and the Transportation and Environment Committee met January 23rd to discuss the Kids Ride Free Program. It provides free bus services from Ride On and Metro to children 18 and under if they present a valid student ID. 

The program was expanded in July 2019 to cover the full day. Before, students were only able to ride free after school between 2 and 8 p.m. Since the program’s expansion, Ride On services to students in Montgomery County has grown.

Youth usage of Ride On in the county increased 57% during the first 6 months of the program. Student ridership per month went up from 110,000 last year to 172,000. According to the committee, heaviest ridership continues to occur after school, with 54% of riders using the service between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.  

Councilmember Glass, who heavily advocated for the program last year, called it “incredible”.  

The update I received today about the Kids Ride Free program was incredible!

In the first six months of the program, which expanded free bus service to children under 18, youth usage increased:

✅ 57% for @RideOnMCT
✅ 51% for @wmata buses
✅ 372,192 new rides overall pic.twitter.com/ZkKsO9Q6q2

— Evan Glass (@EvanMGlass) January 24, 2020

About Veronica Canales

Veronica Canales was a spring 2020 intern for Montgomery Community Media. She studies at the University of Maryland, where she is double majoring in broadcast journalism and French.

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