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June 13, 2022

Fuel Savings: 'Youth Ride Free' Program Extends to Summer

YOUTH RIDERSHIP INCREASES 17.9%

ON CITY’S TRANSIT SYSTEM DURING SCHOOL YEAR

‘Youth Ride Free’ program extends to summer;

Provides cost saving options for families

RAPID CITY, SD—More than 33,000 youth riders utilized the Rapid Transit System’s ‘Youth Ride Free’ program during the 2021-22 school year, a 17.9 percent increase over the number of youth riders using the program during the previous school year.

            From September through May – the 2021-22 school calendar -- Rapid Transit System (RTS) recorded 33,101 youth passenger trips.  The youth ridership number compares to 27,662 youth trips recorded during the same time period for the 2020-21 school year.

            For May, RTS recorded 3,455 youth passenger trips, a 12 percent increase over April’s youth ridership and a seven percent increase over the number of youth riders recorded in May 2021.

            “It was a solid year of youth ridership,” said Megan Gould, Rapid Transit System manager. “We recorded over 3,000 youth riders in eight of the nine months of the school calendar.  Public transportation continues to serve as a convenient and reliable option for our community’s youth and families.”

            Gould emphasizes the ‘Youth Ride Free’ program extends to the summer months and can provide a cost-savings option for families challenged with high fuel and food costs.  Parents and students can register anytime for the free program by contacting RTS as 605-394-6631 or visiting ‘Youth Ride Free’ at the RTS website at www.rapidride.org .