Los Angeles riders get free rides Tuesday through Wednesday morning
Metro waives fares for all buses, trains, bikes, and micro shuttles to help residents reach polling places on election day.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
Los Angeles County residents will not pay a cent to use Metro transit on Tuesday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 4. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority waived fares for the entire system to assist voters during the general election.
The fare exemption begins at 4 a.m. on Tuesday and ends at 3 a.m. on Wednesday. This coverage includes all bus and rail lines, the Metro Micro on-demand service, and Metro Bike Share. Riders do not need a special coupon for most services. The system will automatically charge zero dollars for trips taken within this window.
Bike share users have specific instructions. They must enter the promotional code 110326 at the kiosk or in the app after selecting a ride. A credit or debit card is required to process the transaction. The code allows multiple free rides throughout the day. Each free ride lasts 30 minutes. If a rider keeps the bike for longer, the cost is $1.75 for every additional half hour. Electric bike fees are waived for the initial 30-minute period.
Metro Micro customers can book trips without entering any code. Reservations made on election day are free automatically. Users can book through the Metro Micro app, by visiting ridemicro.metro.net, or by calling 323-466-3876 and pressing 5.
The transit agency installed mailboxes for vote-by-mail ballots at 12 stations. These drop boxes are located in public areas monitored by security cameras. Stations with mailboxes include Union Station, El Monte Bus Transit Center, Harbor Gateway Transit Center, and the Hollywood/Western B Line. Other locations are the North Hollywood B Line, Norwalk C Line, Pierce College G Line, and Pomona North A Line. The Westlake/MacArthur Park, Wilshire/Vermont, and Wilshire/La Cienega stations also have designated drop-off points.
Metro is operating a polling place at its headquarters at One Gateway Plaza, next to Union Station. This voting center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The agency aims to reduce transportation barriers for voters in the county.
