Rebroadcast: Free Fare Offered on all Montgomery County Ride On Buses to Honor ‘Transit Equity Day’ on Tuesday, Feb. 4 

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer free fares on all County buses on Tuesday, Feb. 4 to recognize Transit Equity Day. Transit Equity Day commemorates the life and legacy of Rosa Parks on her birthday. Free fare will be offered on Ride On, Ride On extRa, Flash and Flex. MCDOT Ride On buses also will display internal placards celebrating Rosa Parks and her lasting influence in establishing transportation equity as a fundamental civil right. 

"Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat was about more than one moment—it was about challenging an entire system of injustice," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "Public transit should be a tool for opportunity, not a barrier. In Montgomery County, we recognize that equity in transportation is about access—to jobs, to education, to health care and to a better quality of life. Offering free bus service on Transit Equity Day is a way to honor Parks’ legacy and reaffirm our commitment to making transit more affordable, reliable and accessible for everyone." 

The County offers several affordable transit options, with bus fares of $1 and free fare for seniors, people with disabilities and County youth with specialized SmarTrip cards. 

“Transit Equity Day is a reminder of our ongoing commitment to making public transportation accessible and affordable for everyone,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “I encourage residents to take advantage of the free bus fare across all of our buses as we commemorate Rosa Parks. It's a great day to give public transportation a try if you haven't lately.”  

Transit Equity Day is part of a larger recognition of the contributions of Black Americans and the role of Black history in the pursuit of racial justice and equality during February, which is Black History Month. Montgomery County will recognize Black employees throughout February on the County’s X and Facebook social media channels. Additionally, MCDOT will run a social media campaign highlighting Black engineers and inventors who have contributed to the advancement of transportation. 

For the most up-to-date service information, riders should follow @RideOnMCT on X/Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, and Instagram. In addition, information is available at RideOnBus.com, by subscribing to receive email alerts at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/govdelivery, or texting MONTGOMERY RIDEON to 468311 to receive text alerts.

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X/Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.

If you need an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable accommodation to access Ride On bus service, contact MC311 by voice at 240-777-0311, by email RideOn.CustomerService@montgomerycountymd.gov or TTY 711.

Title VI: Montgomery County assures that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1987, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity.