If you’re 18 or under, a bus ride in Salem will soon be free.
Cherriots is providing free rides to kids and teens starting Sept. 4 as part of a one-year pilot program to make transit more accessible, according to a Wednesday announcement.
“With this program, youth can access and more easily participate in after-school activities, which studies have shown increase graduation rates,” said Ian Davidson, Cherriots board president, in a statement. “Making public transit accessible for all youth will allow more young people in the mid-valley to make sustainable choices and increase their independence. This program will also foster social and family engagement by lightening the load of working families.”
The program will run as a pilot for one year, paid for by $150,000 from the city of Salem and $30,000 from the city of Keizer, said Patricia Feeney, Cherriots spokeswoman. The transit agency approached both cities about the program after Cherriots board members floated the idea.
Free fares for minors apply to all Cherriots services year-round, including local buses, regional and express routes, and LIFT, the agency’s paratransit service.
City leaders cited benefits to young people and families for by making transportation more affordable, allowing teens to get to jobs and after-school activities, and providing independence.
“Taking the bus is more than a convenient ride. Studies have shown that children who ride the bus are healthier because walking is part of the experience and more aware of their community – how it sounds, feels, and looks,” said Chris Hoy, Salem city council president, in a statement.
Young people do not need identification or a pass to take advantage of the service, Cherriots said. They can simply board the bus.
Those who have already purchased a youth fare pass for Cherriots can receive a refund through Cherriots customer service starting Monday, Sept. 5.
More information about the program is available at cherriots.org/youthzeropass.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
