Driving teens everywhere during the summer hardly feels like a break.
The trouble of ferrying kids to and from after-school commitments is one thing; coordinating rides to summer jobs and friends’ houses in the daytime while managing your own work and appointments is another level of complexity.
But if your children are old enough — and responsible enough — a simple fix might be to have them take public transit. Fortunately, several transit agencies across the country are lightening the financial load by offering discounted summer bus passes for young riders.
In St. Petersburg, Florida, where Savinly’s area office is based, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority runs a special Haul Pass program for passengers 18 and younger.
The pass is priced at $35 and grants youth unlimited rides on standard routes through August 31. The seasonal pass went into effect May 15.
By comparison, the typical monthly youth bus pass costs $35. The seasonal summer pass effectively gives youth 3½ months of travel for the cost of a single month.
The summer youth pass has been offered since 2004 and helps teens and younger kids gain experience traveling on public transit independently, said Ashlie Handy, a spokeswoman for Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.
“Haul Pass is a fantastic way for teens and youth in Pinellas County to move around safely during the summer,” she said. “Summer break is a prime time for teens who haven’t used public transportation to try it out.”
Other transit agencies nationwide provide similar summer promotions to encourage youngsters to ride the bus.
In Escambia County, Florida, youth aged 18 and under can ride Escambia County Area Transit buses free from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Applicants must complete a form and have parental permission to obtain the transit authority’s Summer Wheels Pass.
IndyGo, the public transit provider in Indianapolis, Indiana, offers a Summer Youth Pass valid June 1 through August 31. Riders 18 and under can take unlimited trips on local fixed routes for three months for $30 — the cost of a single month’s regular fare.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority in Kansas City, Missouri, lets youth ages 6 to 18 ride for only $12 per month during June, July and August with itsSummer Youth Pass. Regular monthly youth passes usually run $25.
In Salem, Oregon, the Cherriots system has a Summer Youth Pass for riders 18 and younger. The pass permits unlimited rides during June, July and August for $40. A normal 30-day youth pass costs $22.50.
These examples are just a few of the transit programs that help make summer travel more affordable for teens and children. Check with your local public transportation provider to find out if similar options are available in your community.
Alex Morgan is a contributing writer at Savinly. As a teenager, Alex used public transit to get to summer jobs and continues to ride to work as an adult.
