NewVA Moves

Kids Ride Free

This is just a reminder:  Students age 18 and younger can ride Valley Metro buses for free when the show the a driver a valid school ID.  I don't think this program got the attention it deserved when Valley Metro launched it last year, because I keep coming across parents who mention something about needing to get their kids places and have no idea that this is even an option.  It provides a little freedom to kids who aren't yet driving, and can save harried parents the hastle of trying to arrange shopping trips and the like.  Since there's a Valley Metro bus going right past or near every City school, and both Tanglewood and Valley View Malls are on their routes, I think that pretty much covers all the bases.

So, remember, kids 18 and younger ride free.  And it generally takes only 30 minutes or so to get where you're going on a Valley Metro bus, longer if you are traveling from and to the extreme ends of routes.  Even then, bring a book and get some reading time in.

UPDATE:  It turns out Roanoke City schools (or at least William Fleming) issued new IDs that include a misprinted year.  Some kids are being forced to pay full price or are being turned away from the buses (justifiably so; the drivers have no way of verifying whether or not a kid is trying to use an expired ID to get a free trip).  The schools are working to correct the problem, but it might be awhile before it gets worked out.