Montgomery County’s Ride On bus system has made it easier for residents to purchase the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card for customers 18 years of age and younger. The card can now be obtained at all 21 County Public Libraries, as well as 21 schools. Ride On is continuing to work with both public and private schools in the County to add additional purchase locations. Home-schooled students will also be eligible to purchase the card. The cost of the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card is $2.
In addition, the Kids Ride Free program has been extended an additional hour. Previously, the program ended at 7 p.m, but now runs until 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Kids Ride Free provides free rides on Ride On buses to youth ages 5 to 18. Ride On will be transitioning by the end of the year to using Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® cards for identification instead of school identification cards.
Proof of age and County residence is required to obtain a Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card. Riders or their parents must purchase the card in person. The Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® Card is also available at the TRiPS Commuter stores at 8413 Ramsey Avenue, Silver Spring and 17 Wisconsin Circle, Friendship Heights, and the Montgomery County Division of Treasury: 255 Rockville Pike, L-15, Rockville. In addition, passes and stored value can be added to the card at some CVS and Giant stores in or near Montgomery County and the Gaithersburg and Wheaton Zodiac Stores, as well as online.
The Youth Summer pass is an option that provides unlimited rides from June 1 through August 31 for $18. All Ride On Youth Cruiser passes are loaded onto the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card. The Youth Monthly pass provides kids unlimited rides on Ride On for only $11 a calendar month. Both passes provide a significant savings over regular fares. Money can also be loaded onto the cards for regular use, not just pass use, on Metrorail, Metrobus and other transit that accept SmarTrip® cards.
Ride On schedules, fares and information about RideOnRealTime are available on the County’s website.
