Big Blue Bus will offer free rides to all Santa Monica K-12 students from Oct. 6-10, 2025, as part of the annual Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week initiative designed to encourage families to choose environmentally friendly transportation alternatives over driving.
The week-long program promotes walking, biking and public transit as sustainable options for getting to school. Big Blue Bus supports the effort by waiving fares for students throughout the participating period.
Students have two options for accessing free rides during the promotional week. Those enrolled in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools can use their GoPass TAP cards, which provide free transit access on Metro, Big Blue Bus and 11 other Los Angeles County transit agencies year-round.
Students not yet enrolled in the GoPass program should contact their school administrators to obtain the free TAP card. More information about GoPass is available at metro.net/gopass.
Alternatively, students can show valid school identification to Big Blue Bus operators when boarding. The transit agency will also accept current report cards, class schedules or official school enrollment verification letters for students without school IDs.
The free ride promotion runs throughout the designated week, giving students multiple opportunities to experience public transportation as a viable alternative to car travel. The initiative aligns with broader environmental goals of reducing vehicle emissions and traffic congestion around schools.
Students and families interested in participating can plan their routes and find schedule information at bigbluebus.com. The website provides trip planning tools to help riders navigate the Big Blue Bus system effectively.
Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week represents a collaborative effort between the school district, Big Blue Bus and the broader Santa Monica community to promote sustainable transportation habits among young people. By offering free transit access, organizers hope to demonstrate the convenience and environmental benefits of public transportation.
The program encourages students to experience firsthand how alternative transportation methods can reduce their environmental impact while potentially saving families money on gas and parking costs.
Visit bigbluebus.com to plan your FREE Trip.
Edited by SMDP Staff