Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Fares

Five-Year-Olds Can Now Ride Free on Metro!

1:15 PM PDT on October 29, 2021

Yesterday, the Metro Board of Directors approved a fare policy change, allowing all five-year-olds to ride Metro buses and trains for free.

In the past, Metro's fare prices had a loophole. One- to four-year-olds rode free, and students were eligible for discounted fares - but pre-kindergarten five-year-olds paid full fare. The loophole became even more prominent under Metro's recently approved student fareless pilot, which allows kids from ages 1-4 and 6-18+ to ride free - but not pre-K 5-year-olds.

According to Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero, the fare changes took effect immediately. Right now, Metro fare policy reads: “Children under age 6 may travel free with a fare-paying adult on bus or rail.” (Note that under COVID practices, Metro is currently not collecting bus fares - but only fares for Metro rail. Metro will resume bus fare collection on January 10, 2022.)

In practice, Metro was not strict about enforcing its rule that five-year-olds pay full fare. Metro staff sometimes suggested that parents not worry about the requirement, and just lie about a child's age. The new policy will allow the more diligent Metro-riding parents to save some money. It will make it cheaper and easier for kids (and their families) to take the bus to school on their first few weeks of kindergarten, before they can obtain a student pass.

Streetsblog L.A. first drew attention to this loophole in a 2018 post.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Caltrans Readies Guidance for Complete Streets, with a Big Exemption

But somewhere along the way, highway interchanges - roads crossing and going under and over freeways and highways - were exempted from the guidelines

September 29, 2023

Guest Opinion: Ten Years In, CA Active Transportation Program Lays Bare a Tale of Two Agencies

L.A. County needs to embrace physically-protected bikeways, robust traffic calming around schools, and similarly transformative, safety-focused projects

September 29, 2023

Commentary: Let’s Talk About the Real “Fatal Flaw” on Valencia

How many people have to die before professional advocates stop endorsing the Valencia Street "experiment" on people?

September 29, 2023

Friday’s Headlines

Caltrans, we need complete streets everywhere, including at freeway interchanges (or maybe especially there); Public agencies and academics join forces to develop AV standards; Republicans really want to suspend the gas tax; More

September 29, 2023
See all posts