Regional leaders held a rally at the Old Town Transit Center to promote and encouraged San Diego residents and workers to choose transit on Tuesday, Oct. 2 – the region’s first Free Ride Day. Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District are co-sponsoring Free Ride Day. Rides will be free on buses, the Trolley, the Coaster and Sprinter, and discounts will be available on first/last mile providers.
Free Ride Day is being held in conjunction with the SANDAG iCommute program to promote National Rideshare Week and to educate people about transportation choices available in the San Diego Region.
“Our ask is very clear to the San Diego community. We want people to choose transit on Oct. 2,” said Georgette Gómez, MTS Board chair. “Choosing transit is absolutely critical for this region as we all strive to meet our climate action goals. We need to do everything we can to change commuting habits and get people to try alternative modes of transportation. Free Ride Day is designed to do just that.”
“Free Ride Day is a great opportunity for folks to ditch their cars for a day and use public transit or other transportation options to get around," said Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer. "We want people to know that you can choose to get to work or school many different ways and the choice you make can help us leave a cleaner tomorrow."
Free Ride Day will be valid on all MTS and NCTD fixed-routes services including buses, the Trolley, Sprinter and Coaster (MTS Access, NCTD LIFT and Amtrak R2R trains are not part of this promotion). Passengers will not need a Compass Card for either system. MTS and NCTD services will operate on a normal weekday schedule.
“Try transit on Free Ride Day and see how it can make your commute easier,” said Rebecca Jones, NCTD Board chair. “NCTD’s services directly access so many businesses and schools in North County. Save money on gas, help your environment, and let NCTD do the driving.”
SANDAG, MTS, and NCTD have partnered to celebrate National Rideshare Week. On Monday, October 1 through Friday, October 5 transportation organizations here and around the country will celebrate the many benefits of commuter alternatives.
“Rideshare Week and Free Ride Day both align with the SANDAG iCommute program mission to get solo drivers out of their cars and into a carpool, a vanpool or on transit,” said SANDAG Transportation Committee Vice Chair and Coronado Councilmember Bill Sandke. “SANDAG encourages every San Diego commuter, especially those heading to and from military installations, to pledge to share the ride during Rideshare Week and beyond.”
