Getting around town shouldn’t drain your wallet. While most American cities charge fares for buses, trains, and other public transit, a growing number of communities have decided to eliminate those costs. These pioneering places prove that free public transportation isn’t just a pipe dream—it’s a working reality that benefits everyone from college students to working families.Free transit does more than save you money. It reduces traffic congestion, helps the environment, and makes cities more accessible to people who can’t afford cars or prefer not to drive. Here is a list of 18 US cities where you can hop on public transportation without paying a dime.
Olympia, Washington
Olympia switched to free public transportation when their fare collection equipment became too expensive to maintain and replace. After just one month of the program, Olympia saw a 20% increase in ridership compared to the previous year, or about 60,000 additional rides in that time period.
The change eliminated the hassle of exact change and made boarding much faster for everyone.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond first eliminated fares in March 2020 and extended that policy through June 2025. Agency leaders say eliminating fares has helped city buses grow ridership by 6% in 2022 compared to 2019 levels.
The move particularly benefits the system’s riders, who are predominantly low-income residents and people of color who rely on buses out of necessity.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
In 2002, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill contracted with Chapel Hill Transit to provide free rides for students on public transit. The university’s decision to facilitate fare-free transit has also benefited the entire Chapel Hill community, with ridership surging from approximately 3 million trips to more than 7 million between 2001 and 2011…