News Release
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill SmithOffice: 661.869.6307
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2019
Free Rides for the Holidays
Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced today that all rides on GET fixed routes and GET-A-Lift will be free from December 1 through December 31, 2019 for its Free Rides for the Holidays campaign. GET’s RYDE service will continue to collect its standard fare.
GET received a grant through Caltrans’ Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) to bring free ride days to Bakersfield. The LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities.
“GET is so happy to give what we can to residents this holiday season,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “By providing free rides during this busy time, we hope to encourage residents to take advantage of GET’s services and become familiar with the local bus system, for free!”
Fares will not be collected on GET services from December 1 through December 31. All fareboxes on the GET buses will be covered to prevent residents from paying.
As a reminder, GET services will not operate on Christmas Day (December 25), and the GET administrative office and customer service phone lines will be closed as well.
GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).
