Ride On Announces REduced Fares And Expanded Bus Service; Special $.25 Fare For 'Try Transit Day'

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Contact: William Selby, 240-777-5800
Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530

For Immediate Release: September 7, 2000

RIDE ON ANNOUNCES REDUCED FARES AND EXPANDED BUS SERVICE;
SPECIAL $.25 FARE FOR 'TRY TRANSIT DAY'

County officials today announced new Ride On fare changes that will reduce the cost of many trips to only $.50 or less. Officials unveiled plans to celebrate national 'Try Transit Week' during the week of September 10-16 with a full day of $.25 fares on all Ride On buses September 12. The Regional Day Pass will also be reduced that day to only $1.50 on Ride On buses.

"Encouraging residents to use transit is an important part of our efforts to ease traffic congestion," said Duncan. "In order to successfully lure commuters out of their cars, we must make transit easy, convenient, and inexpensive. The new improvements to Ride On should help convince citizens that using transit will improve the quality of their lives, and help them save money."

New services and programs announced today include a pilot project to assess whether lower bus fares on two popular passes will increase ridership. Starting September 3, the Ride On 20-Trip Ticket (with no time limit) was reduced from $18 to $10 as will the Ride On Ride-About Two Week Pass, starting September 10.

More frequent service has been added to the 15 bus routes with the highest ridership, and with more seats on new buses added to the Ride On fleet, there should be less standing during rush hour and less waiting time between buses. The areas with added service include Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Langley Park, Montgomery Mall, Glenmont, the Rockville Metro station, the Lakeforest Transit Center, and Dorsey Mill in Germantown.

Purchasing passes and farecards will be even easier with the upcoming introduction of direct sales through the internet using a new and easier-to-remember address : www.rideonbus.com.

"By cutting fares and boosting service, we are reducing traffic congestion and air pollution," said Councilmember Phil Andrews, who spearheaded the Council drive to dramatically cut bus fares. "More business for Ride On benefits all of us, whether our situation allows us to use mass transit or not."

Other new services introduced include extended customer service hours to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for calls to the Transit Information Center. In addition, a new midday service was added on route 76 between Kentlands (Quince Orchard High School) and the Shady Grove Metro Station.

"Ride On continues to innovate to bring the best possible service to our customers," said Al Genetti, Jr., director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation. "We are working hard to promote our special fares, youth initiatives, and other programs and to provide services that benefit everyone."

In April, Ride On introduced the Kids Ride Free program that offers free travel on Ride On buses to elementary, middle and high school students every weekday from 2 to 7 p.m. Last year, Ride On reduced the fare for the monthly Youth Cruiser Pass from $20 to $10.

A total of 54 new buses have been added to the Ride On fleet in the last 13 months, including 19 new compressed natural gas buses that promote a cleaner environment by significantly reducing air emissions compared with traditional diesel buses.

To continue Ride On's 25th anniversary commemoration for the remainder of the year, riders will pay only $.25 to ride the two specially painted 25th Anniversary buses that rotate among the different Ride On routes.

For more information on Ride On schedules or rates, call 240-777-5800 or check Ride On's internet site at www.rideonbus.com.

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