ALAMEDA
FREE
AC TRANSIT
BUS PASS
City of Alameda - AC Transit
Interagency Liaison
Committee Meeting
January 30, 2024
The popularity of the
program continues with
an average of 4 requests
per week from residents
outside of the City of
Alameda.
Free Bus Pass Program
Since the program’s start in June 2022:
➢ Program started with 62 passes.
➢ In 2022 – 307 passes issued
In 2023 – 435 passes issued
Today we have over 800 passes.
➢ More than 119,000 rides have
been taken
➢ In the past 6 months, the average
boarding is 346 rides per day
➢ The average cost per ride is $1.14
Free Bus Pass Program
52% use their bus pass between 1-20 per month.
1 - 10 Rides, 36%
11 - 20 Rides, 16%
21 - 40 Rides, 22%
> 40 Rides, 26%
The program continues to be one of the most used programs of AC Transit with 80% of passes being actively used.
Since the program began,
• 86% of rides are on Alameda Lines.
• 12% are riding the bus between 6:00 am and 8:30 am (before the shuttle began running) • 25% of the rides occur between 3:00 pm and midnight. Shuttles stopped running at 4:30 pm and the last hour and a half had low ridership.
Free Bus Pass Program
As the number of rides increase -
The number of unique riders also increases.
Free Bus Pass Program
*61% of our pass holders are monolinguist speakers
Alameda Transportation Survey Relating to Seniors and
People with Disabilities
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Ride AC Transit
Satisfaction 4 or better
Drivers are courteous
Buses arrive on time most of the time
Buses arrive on time some of the time
Continue using
82%
84%
88%
73%
23%
98%
64%
45%
55%
36%
44%
64%
Total responses: 159 188
2022 2023
AC Transit
Free Bus Pass Program
SOME FINDING FROM OUR SURVEY:
20% ride the bus at least once per week.
54% ride the bus 2-3 times per week.
68% report having the Free pass and an additional pass
55% of those that reported riding buses report that their overall experience is positive.
12% reported that bus service is needed to the ferries, both Main Street Ferry and the Seaplane Ferry.
Overall the comments are positive and state that the pass is convenient, helps to save money, increases their quality of life, and is a wonderful service.
Free Bus Pass Program
Here are some comments from some of the surveys received:
•As a disabled senior I'm on a fix income. Not having to purchase the monthly $34 bus pass means I can use it for other essentials.
Love it. It improves my quality of life. Helps me to contribute to reduction of carbon foot print and makes travel affordable. Allows me and my friends to easily travel together on the bus, go outings, and supporting local businesses.
I honestly do appreciate the free bus pass but I do understand why some people prefer using private transportation because people occasionally make bus riding unpleasant by behaving badly. Playing loud music, putting their feet on the seats, screaming into cell phones...things like that.
It has made it possible for me to be more active as I don’t drive.
Overall the comments are positive and state that the pass is convenient, helps to save money, increases their quality of life, and is a wonderful service.