‘Kids Ride Free’ Initiative Allows Youth to Ride Public Transit for Free

The City of Sioux Falls is now offering public transit at no charge for individuals 18 and under to ride Sioux Area Metro buses. The goal is to encourage public transportation ridership for kids and families and to help kids become familiar with using transit today.

“With the Kids Ride Free initiative, we hope to instill an early interest in kids to use public transit,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken. “Over the past 12 months, we had more than 15,000 youth riders, and our goal is that even more kids and families across Sioux Falls will make public transit part of their daily lives.”

Until this school year, public transit has only been free to kids during summer months, but now the fares will be waived year round. This change is part of the City’s overall plan to improve the public transit system and to encourage ridership to better serve the community.

To ride for free, middle and high school riders need to show their current school ID or Freedom Pass—which is available at no charge from Sioux Area Metro—to the bus driver when boarding. Children 10 years and under do not need to show an ID to ride for free, but must be accompanied by an adult. Kids riding paratransit are also free with a school ID or Freedom Pass.

For more information and current route and stop times, visit siouxfalls.org/sam.