The Brief
- Montgomery County Ride On buses are ending fare fees starting this month, following a decision from the County Council.
- The move will benefit bus riders, whose income averages less than half that of the typical Montgomery County household.
- The county joins many others transitioning to free bus systems in a nationwide trend.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. – Montgomery County’s Ride On buses are completely free as of this week.
The change will benefit local riders, who earn less than $50,000 on average compared to the $125,000 income of local households. Tap-to-pay upgrades required to maintain the bus fare system would have cost Montgomery $19 million, another factor in the county’s decision.
Free public transit is trending across the nation, with cities like Boston, Kansas City, and Alexandria also making the switch.…