Starting Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, Fare Free Iowa City is bringing free rides to everyone on Iowa City transit!

Fare Free Iowa City is a two-year pilot program that means every ride on Iowa City buses is free for everyone.

If you are a current Iowa City Transit rider, just hop aboard! No transit passes or pocket change needed. If you have a 31-day, 10-ride, single-ride, or 24-hour pass, you will want to use those up prior to August 1.

If you are new to Iowa City Transit, welcome aboard! Now is a great time to give it a try. Here are a few things you can do to get familiar with the system before taking your first ride:

• Download the Transit app to plan your ride, get predicted arrival times, or get real-time updates on bus location on your phone. Just type in your destination and the app will give you a few route options to get there.
• Review the City’s digital map of all routes and stops.
• Visit icgov.org/busschedules to learn about the City’s 13 different bus routes.
• Visit icareatransit.org to explore the metro area transit system.
• Reach out to 319-356-5151 or ICTransit@iowa-city.org for trip-planning assistance.

This pilot program is aimed at studying the effects of making Transit free across Iowa City with the goal of improving access to safe, affordable, reliable, and sustainable transportation.

The move also goes hand-in-hand with our Climate Action goals of reducing carbon emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, then achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve these goals, Iowa City Transit has a goal of doubling ridership and enabling a shift of 55% of vehicle trips to more sustainable modes of transportation such as transit.