Let someone else take the wheel Wednesday.
It’s Free Ride Day on local trolleys and buses, and as a reminder, San Diego County leaders gathered Tuesday to encourage residents to take transit for their commutes.
The annual promotion, offering free transit for all riders in San Diego, is hosted by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD).
“Whether you choose transit to reduce your carbon footprint or to reduce the bill at the gas pump, I invite you to explore what MTS and NCTD have to offer this Free Ride Day,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and a San Diego City Council member.
On Free Ride Day all rides are free on MTS buses, the Trolley, COASTER, SPRINTER, NCTD+ On-demand rides and BREEZE fixed-route services.
This will be the fifth Free Ride Day held jointly by MTS and NCTD. Free Ride Day is sponsored by Mission Federal Credit Union and is part of California Clean Air Day, which encourages the state’s residents to reduce carbon emissions to improve the region’s air quality.
“NCTD is committed to reducing emissions as part of Clean Air Day,” said NCTD Board Chair Jewel Edson. “We urge regular riders, choice rider, and anyone who has been waiting to try public transit to ride our modes for free on Wednesday and do your part to improve air quality throughout our region.”
Each Free Ride Day, the transit agencies have seen a significant increase in ridership, by as much as 30%. The agencies anticipate logging more than 250,000 passenger trips on Wednesday.
MTS and NCTD also will hold pop-up outreach events at major transit centers from 6 – 8 a.m. and later, from 4 -6 p.m., to thank riders for choosing transit. Riders can stop by for transit information and promotional items and enter to win a Free Ride Day giveaway.
