Tulsa Public Schools high school students can ride city buses for free 7 days a week as program expands

tulsaworld.com: "Tulsa Public Schools high school students can ride Tulsa Transit buses free of charge seven days a week, starting Aug. 1.

TPS Rides, a year-old partnership between the school district and the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority, is being expanded from weekdays to include weekends, TPS announced Tuesday."

Counties provide what state won’t for transportation: leadership | NewsCut | Minnesota Public Radio News

Minnesota Public Radio News: "But county boards are faced with a choice: Provide the leadership on transportation issues that state leaders are unable or unwilling to provide, or wait for someone to somehow change the reality that Minnesota state government does not work.

There’s no sign that’s going to happen, especially with the growing influence of outstate legislators to call the shots for metro residents."

Bloomington Transit offers free rides June 15

Indiana Daily Student: "Bloomington Transit will offer free rides on all fixed routes June 15 in honor of National Dump the Pump Day.

They will be joining other public transportation systems nationwide to participate in the 12th annual event, which is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association.

The day encourages people to use public transportation instead of driving, to save money, support local transit systems and use less gas."

MN - Ramsey County likely to increase sales tax for public transportation

twincities.com : "The St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter supporting the additional quarter-cent sales tax for transit, noting that transit “has become essential for businesses to attract and retain employees.”"

Whatever is spent on buses will come back many times in the reduction of auto and sprawl externalities.

Use of #publictransit associated with lower obesity rates

EmaxHealth: "King has said this research has suggested that along with benefits to the environment and more access to transportation for residents, investments at a community-level into public transit systems may also serve to benefit public health by decreasing rates of obesity. The study found that for each increase of 1 percent in a county’s population who frequently ride on public transit, obesity rates decreased by 0.2 percent.
Jacobson has commented that there is an opportunity for more physical activity when public transit is used instead of driving a car. When you drive your own car the walking part of a trip is cut out. A walk to and from a bus station or train station offers the opportunity for extra physical activity.
This study has been published in the journal Preventive Medicine. Researchers at the University of Illinois
analyzed the impact of the use of public transit on obesity. The findings offer support for how effective encouragement of use of public transit can be used as a strategy to fight obesity. It's an interesting thought that deciding to use mass transit instead of your car may help you stay fit and trim."

Minnesota - Students protest proposed transit cuts

MSR News Online: "At the end of 2016, more than 10,000 Metro Transit student passes were in use. Last Tuesday, May 2, several Minneapolis young people concerned about losing their primary means of transportation to school and other destinations publicly denounced the legislature’s proposed cuts to transit funding."

#freetransit leads to better school attendance

newscenter1 : "RAPID CITY, S.D. -
The city of Rapid City is touting results from the Rapidride Youth Ridership program.

Officials say that it is indeed having an impact on school attendance numbers. The Youth Ridership program offers free rides to area youths 18 and younger. Since September 2016, the number of youth riders has increased by nearly 2,500."

Public transportation advocates speak up in Minnesotaine

MSR News Online: "“Our main goal is to spread awareness,” Pachuta stated. We want to make sure people know about the state legislature proposing a 40 percent cut to transportation. We want people’s voices to be heard about what impact this will have on their lives. We really hope the governor and state legislature are paying attention.”"

Sprawl buyers remorse

Woodbury Bulletin : "The term "podunk" describes an insignificant and out of the way town or village. While it may be true that Woodbury was largely rural with a small population 50 years ago, what is wrong with that? And what is so great about Woodbury transforming into a giant suburban superpower full of impervious surfaces, cookie-cutter homes, big box stores, redundant fast food troughs and lights that cut out the stars at night? As someone who lives in the last remaining rural part of Woodbury's east side, I take pride in our agricultural and farming existence. We wake up early, get our hands dirty and don't take the beauty and gift of the earth around us for granted. My family has accepted and benefited from the inevitable adjacent development, but we certainly don't take pride in references to our land being a "blank slate ripe for rapid growth.""

Colorado Springs UCCS free buses for one week

Mountain Metro | Colorado Springs: "COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— All University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, faculty, and staff will be able to ride Mountain Metropolitan Transit fixed-route buses for free Monday, April 17 through Friday, April 21."