Youth Ride Free!

Starting September 1, all youth in Washington will be able to ride transit for free (you read that right)!

Through Move Ahead Washington, riders statewide age 18 and younger can now hop on transit without spending a dime. Local transit agencies are still requesting that these riders tap an ORCA card when riding. Here’s what that entails (From King County Metro):

• Riders age 13 and older are encouraged to show one  of the following to the driver, if they have it:
  • Youth ORCA Card
    • Please “tap” your card when you board. On Sound Transit light rail, please also “tap” when you exit.
    • If you kept the Youth ORCA card issued by your school during the 2021-22 academic year, it will continue to work through June 30, 2023.
  • Current High School or Middle School Student ID
• Youth who do not have one of these can still ride for free, without tapping.
• In 2023 and beyond, youth will be directed to get a Free Youth Transit Pass that allows them to tap a card—or eventually their smartphone—to access transit across the region for free.

For more information, please visit the myorca.com page on youth ride free.

-Choose Your Way Bellevue staffer Alex