As part of an annual celebration to honor the birthday of civil rights activist Rosa Parks, regional transit agencies will offer free rides on buses, trains, and other modes of public transportation on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Formally known as Transit Equity Day, the celebration honors Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a public transit bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Her actions helped launch the civil rights movement and helped end segregation on public transit.
Metro, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Metrolink, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Orange County Transportation Authority are participating for the day.
“Every single resident of L.A. County should know that they can step onto a Metro bus or train and expect to get where they’re going safely and reliably,” Metro Board Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement.
“Transit Equity Day is our opportunity to remind even those who are not regular riders that this system is here to serve them, and that we’re committed to providing a world-class service accessible to everyone,” Hahn added.
LA Metro will offer free rides on its bus, rail, bike share and Metro Micro rideshare services.
Rail station turnstiles will be unlocked, and bus riders will not need to TAP their fare cards.
Riders can receive a 30-minute ride on Metro Bike Share and Metro Micro, a rideshare program.
Users can redeem a Bike Share 30-minute ride by selecting “1-Ride” at any Metro Bike Share kiosk, online or in the Metro app, and use code 020425, which can be used multiple times throughout the day.
Riders can book free rides on Metro Micro using the code EQUITY25.
“From offering discounted and free fares for students, seniors, and people with lower incomes, to engaging the public in the design and implementation of our services, Metro strives to ensure that all people, regardless of where they live in LA County or how much money they make, have equitable access to high quality, reliable, and affordable transit services,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement.
LADOT will provide free rides on its Commuter Express and DASH lines across the city of Los Angeles. Riders can receive two free rides on the department’s LAnow, an on demand shared-ride service, using the code EQUITY.
Metrolink riders will be able to use the rail system without a ticket so they can “travel without limits and explore Southern California,” according to the agency’s website.
Riders on the Orange County Transportation Authority can expect free rides all day on fixed-route buses.
Meanwhile, the SBCTA’s five transit providers in San Bernardino County — Omnitrans, Mountain Transit, Basin Transit, Victor Valley Transit Authority and Needles Area Transit, will also provide free rides.
The SBCTA will host a celebration at the San Bernardino Transit Center, located at 599 W. Rialto Ave., from 7 to 10 a.m. for Transit Equity Day, offering a chance for attendees to learn about its Ride Happy! campaign.