Picture this: your kid hops on a bus, waves goodbye, and heads across town to meet up with friends. No carpool coordination, no “can you pick me up at 3?” Just a teenager with a bus pass and a plan. And this summer, that bus pass is completely free.

Valley Regional Transit’s ​Youth Ride Free program​ allows kids age 18 and under to hop on any VRT bus and ride for free now through August 31. All they have to do is sign up, grab their Youth Ride Free pass, and go.

More than a free bus pass

VRT Executive Director Elaine Clegg has been thinking about this for a while. “One of our key audiences is kids who can’t drive yet, but are capable of moving around the city by themselves,” she said. It’s freeing for kids and also parents, who are usually juggling kids’ activities alongside their own work schedules, she noted.

VRT has long been interested in attracting more youth riders including working with the Boise School District to increase ridership. Youth Ride Free was initiated when the City of Boise identified transportation access as a real barrier to youth thriving in our community and got a meaningful boost when The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation stepped in to help fund it. The pieces came together, and here we are.

The response has been remarkable. Before school even let out for summer, VRT had over 1,000 signups, which was the goal for the entire summer.

So, where are we headed?

VRT routes connect to a solid list of summer spots including city pools, malls, parks, and plenty of places to spend an afternoon without spending a dime. Here’s a quick list:

Swimming pools:

• Borah Pool (Route 4 – Franklin)
• Fairmont Pool (Route 21 – Cole/Glenwood)
• Ivywild Pool (Route 2 – Broadway)
• Lakeview Pool in Nampa (Route 150 – VRT On-Demand Nampa/Caldwell)
• Natatorium (Route 17 – Warm Springs/Parkcenter)
• Roaring Springs (Route 40 – Caldwell/Boise Express)

Parks:

• Ann Morrison Park (Route 5 – Emerald or Route 3 – Vista)
• Borah Park (Route 4 – Franklin)
• Camel’s Back Park (Route 16 – VA/15th St)
• Catalpa Park (Route 10 – Hill Road)
• Fort Boise Park (Route 16 – VA/15th St)
• Helen B. Lowder Park (Route 2 – Broadway)
• Julia Davis Park (Route 3 – Vista or Route 2 – Broadway)
• Julius M. Kleiner Park in Meridian (Route 45 – Boise State/CWI)
• Kathryn Albertson Park (Route 5 – Emerald)
• Lakeview Park in Nampa (Route 150 – VRT On-Demand Nampa/Caldwell)
• Molenaar Park + Skate Park (Route 28 – Cole/Victory)
• Primrose Park (Route 21 – Cole/Glenwood)
• Rhodes Skate Park (Route 7 – Fairview)
• Terry Day Park (Route 29 – Overland)
• Veterans Memorial Park (Route 9 – State Street)

Malls:

• Boise Towne Square Mall (Routes 7, 4, 5, 21, 24, 28, 29, 42, 45)
• The Village at Meridian (Routes 24, 30, 45)

Libraries:

• Downtown Boise Library (Route 4 – Franklin or Route 3 – Vista)
• Library! at Bown Crossing (Route 17 – Warm Springs/Parkcenter)
• Library! at Cole & Ustick (Route 24 – Ustick/Maple Grove)
• Library! at Collister (Route 9 – State Street)
• Library! at Hillcrest (Route 29 – Overland or Route 20 – Orchard)

For parents: what to know

Putting your kid on a bus for the first time may be a little nerve wracking — I get it. A few things to put you at ease.

Bus transit is one of the safest forms of transportation in the country. VRT drivers go through extensive training and background checks before they’re hired. Every bus has two-way radios, interior mirrors, and cameras. There are street supervisors available during all operating hours. And the drivers are really friendly.

Elaine put it simply: “Give it a try. Come ride with them if you’re not comfortable.”

Tracking your kid’s route is easy. You can download the ​ETA Spot app​, or go to ​VRT’s Routes page​ and pull up a live map of whatever bus they’re on. Your kid just needs to text you the bus number — it’s printed on both the inside and outside of every bus.

Beyond that: the buses are air conditioned, they have free Wi-Fi, and as Elaine said with a laugh, “You can ride distracted.” Don’t drive distracted. But on the bus? Zone out, scroll, whatever.

If you want to learn more or chat with the VRT team in person, they have two upcoming events that are great opportunities to ask questions and check out the bus in person:

Saturday, May 30: ​Spring Fling Family Fair​ from 10am-1pm. Nearly 20 community organizations will be on hand, including VRT, who will have staff available to answer questions about Youth Ride Free, help with trip planning, and walk you through routes. It’s free to attend!

Monday, June 16: ​Bus Day Ever with ACHD​: Walk, Bike & Ride Event from 6-8pm. A free, hands-on community ride where VRT staff guide a group bus trip, teach you how to load bikes onto the front rack, and walk through how to read routes and schedules. Whether your kid has never ridden the bus or just needs a confidence boost, this is a way to figure it all out together. El Paco Tacos & Tortas will be there after the ride.

The long game

Elaine told me about visiting her daughter in college in New York City and seeing a stream of kids, some as young as five, pouring out of the subway headed to school with instruments in hand. “I’ve never forgotten that,” she said. She’s been asking ever since, how do we make that feel normal here in Boise?

That’s the real goal here. Not just a free summer bus pass, but a generation of Treasure Valley locals who grow up knowing the bus is a transportation option, that the city is navigable, and that independence doesn’t have to wait until they can drive or have their own car.

You can sign your kid up for VRT’s Youth Ride Free program through August 31 at ​ridevrt.org/youth​.

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Marissa

This story is sponsored by Valley Regional Transit

If you’re interested in getting your product, service, or event in front of 25k Boise locals →​book a call​