Cherriots free youth ticket program leads to increase in ridership

Thousands more young people are using Salem buses in the months following the launch of the Youth Zero Pass.

On Sept. 4, all local, regional and LIFT rides Salem Area Mass Transit District became free of charge to people under 18. Since then, youth ridership has spiked, according to data from Cherriots.

Ian Davidson, Cherriots board president, told Salem Reporter in an email that he thinks the real-world impacts are more important than the ridership…