The Jefferson City Transit System wants to thank current riders and welcome newcomers on its annual Discover JeffTran/Ride Free Day.
Patrons can get on any JeffTran bus from 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday for no charge.
Focused on their motto of "clean, reliable, environmentally friendly and safe," the city's transit service likes to remind residents they are available, Jefferson City Transit Director Mark Mehmert said.
Unlimited free rides give families and individuals a chance to test out the service, he said.
"A lot of individuals in Jefferson City are two-car families," Mehmert said.
Riding the transit system could save families money, he added.
"A September 2019 American Public Transit Association reports annual national savings of $9,985 when individuals live with one less car," Mehmert said.
Typically, to ride JeffTran's orange, blue, green, red, gold and black set routes, individuals pay approximately $1 per ride, which includes one transfer for each route. Adult 20-ride passes are available for $20, and student 20-ride passes are available for $18, according to the city's website.
The system's Handi-Wheels buses will conduct business as usual and will not participate in ride free day, he said.
The number of riders typically doubles on free ride day, Mehmert said.
Some riders have used the day to plan small adventures around the city.
A few stops on fixed routes include Missouri River Regional Library, Capital Mall, Central Dairy and tripper routes to some Jefferson City schools.
"You could spend an afternoon out and it not cost you a dime to get around," Mehmert said.
In December 2018, JeffTran made changes to the routes to increase patron use, shorten trips and make services more convenient. The city also updated its GPS software, Double-Map. The program can be purchased in any app store, used online or by text message to determine the estimated arrival time of buses to stops.
The department hopes to make other improvements soon, including adjusting transfer routes to make them more walk-able, Mehmert said.