News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Janet Sanders
Office: 661.869.6304

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2020

Happy Riders – Results of Free Rides for the Holidays

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced the results of the FREE rides during the month of December on GET fixed routes and GET-A-Lift from December 1 through December 31, 2019.

Both our fixed-route and paratransit services had ridership increases compared to December 2018. The fixed-route bus service had 664,405 boardings compared to 481,004 boardings in December 2018, a 38.1% increase or approximately 183,401 more boardings.

For Get-A-Lift, our paratransit buses, there was also growth – 33.4% overall with a 28.3 % increase on weekdays, 37.6% increase on Saturday, and 50% increase on Sunday.

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 thrilled we had so many people enjoy the free rides for the holidays,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “By providing free rides during this busy time, we hope we encouraged residents to try GET’s services and become a regular rider” on our local transit system.

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).