Three bills in California Assembly for #freepublictransit

Three Assembly members are taking bold action this legislative year to make California the first state to offer free transit for key age groups. California is seeing higher fares for public transportation across the state, which has contributed to decreases in ridership. As ridership numbers continue to decline, providing fare-free transit could be the solution we need to remove a significant barrier to transit use, and reduce emissions in our nation’s smoggiest state.

https://www.ccair.org/free-transit-for-young-and-old-a-good-idea-is-coming-of-age-in-the-legislature/ 

Most transit agencies are trying -- the problem is oil trolls in government

Imagine a government that prioritized free transit and all the necessary reinvestments, upkeep, and improvements.

The majority of our operating budget and portions of our capital budget are paid for by fare dollars.

Why isn’t transit prioritized to the same degree here? https://t.co/twNJryQVge

— SFBART (@SFBART) February 28, 2020

Sacramento fare-free program doubles youth ridership

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) announced today that student ridership has doubled since implementing the fare-free program for youth/students in grades transitional kindergarten (TK) to 12th. SacRT launched the RydeFreeRT program in October 2019, which offers youth/students access to the entire SacRT network, including buses, light rail and SmaRT Ride on-demand microtransit service, for free

https://www.ecosacramento.net/2020/02/regional-transit-fare-free-program-for-youth-is-a-success/ 

Remove cars and cycling goes up 20%. Imagine what #freepublictransit can do

Bike use up 20% in ONE week on Market St, after going private car free.

I love to see it. https://t.co/sNPIfK5NGG

— Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) February 6, 2020

Bay Area Transit Riders Union?

Suggestion of starting a Transit Riders Union generates interest.

Does Berkeley have a Transit Riders Union?

— Darrell Owens (@IDoTheThinking) January 30, 2020

Palo Alto, CA, PTC Commisioner, supports #farefree #publictransit

@cari_templeton

Candidate for California Senate supports #freepublictransit

I'm not your typical candidate. I'm a young woman of color. I work in the service industry to supplant my income. Sometimes I sleep in my van. But all these experiences mean I will push for change like my life depends on it. Because it does. #Jackie2020https://t.co/Frmfd91Gmy

— Jackie Fielder 傑基 菲爾德 (@JackieFielder_) November 26, 2019