Anonymous
Post 11/16/2025 09:13     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I take the bus at least 3 days a week, and I’ve never seen a kid of any age scan a card, on any day of the week. It would be different for metro if you’re not with them, of course, since they can’t get through the turnstile. I also had never heard the “educational” limitation.


My kid has one and rarely scanned it last year. He said the bus driver didn't care and knows he's a student (wears a school uniform, bookbag and using during before school/directly after school hours). He literally had it on him every day. However, this year I told him he has to. I told him I don't care what the bus driver does or doesn't say, scan the card you're literally carrying with your school ID.


Bus drivers are explicitly told not to enforce fare payment as it's not worth getting assaulted over.


And yet, there have been reports of people being arrested over it.


Please have your kids scan their cards regardless of whether the driver cares or not. Ridership dictates changes to frequency of buses and routes. My bus route was once slated for removal because of low ridership even though it was always packed when I rode it.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 23:22     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:I genuinely think that the city doesn't mind if Kids Ride Free on the transit system. This is from the website:

"The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program allows students to ride for free on Metrobus or Metrorail while traveling within the District."

Mayor Bowser started this because she wanted to take away this obstacle to getting to school. The city has an attendance problem and this is one way to help, and they clearly state that kids can ride transit to school for free.

For many kids, particularly middle and high school kids, this is 10x per week.

Because of the way the cards are designed, they also use it whenever they want to. I'm sure the city understands that this means that kids can use it all week long and on the weekends and they can eat that cost, but that it's worth it to help kids get to school.



The school system also offers no alternate transportation to school such as school buses. Therefore forcing kids to pay to go to school is problematic. Of course they should ride for free.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 21:12     Subject: Re:Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do you get the card? Just ask the front desk at school?

Also another question: We have one in DC public and one in a private school but the school is in Maryland. Can the child in private also get a card because we live in DC?


Yes, ask the front desk at school.

If you read this code https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-16#%C2%A76044 (that someone else posted) it says private and parochial in DC are included.


PP said one kid’s private school is in MD but they are DC residents (or at least that’s what I’m assuming with one at DCPS). KRF cards are distributed by DC schools to their enrolled students. Montgomery County has its own youth metro card program, but I believe restricted to MoCo residents. You’d have to ask your private school if they are associated with any MD program, but no, it wouldn’t be via DC KRF. See below.

Eligibility: District of Columbia students between ages 5 to 21 enrolled in an elementary or secondary public, charter, private or parochial school located within the District, or a ward of DC through the foster care system.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 21:00     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I take the bus at least 3 days a week, and I’ve never seen a kid of any age scan a card, on any day of the week. It would be different for metro if you’re not with them, of course, since they can’t get through the turnstile. I also had never heard the “educational” limitation.


My kid has one and rarely scanned it last year. He said the bus driver didn't care and knows he's a student (wears a school uniform, bookbag and using during before school/directly after school hours). He literally had it on him every day. However, this year I told him he has to. I told him I don't care what the bus driver does or doesn't say, scan the card you're literally carrying with your school ID.


Bus drivers are explicitly told not to enforce fare payment as it's not worth getting assaulted over.


And yet, there have been reports of people being arrested over it.


Yes, Metro police does enforcement. Not the bus driver.

I'm also pretty sure that police can only issue a citation for fare evasion in DC. Any arrests are only happening when the person is also committing another crime.


This wasn't the case for the video I saw.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 19:40     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I take the bus at least 3 days a week, and I’ve never seen a kid of any age scan a card, on any day of the week. It would be different for metro if you’re not with them, of course, since they can’t get through the turnstile. I also had never heard the “educational” limitation.


My kid has one and rarely scanned it last year. He said the bus driver didn't care and knows he's a student (wears a school uniform, bookbag and using during before school/directly after school hours). He literally had it on him every day. However, this year I told him he has to. I told him I don't care what the bus driver does or doesn't say, scan the card you're literally carrying with your school ID.


Bus drivers are explicitly told not to enforce fare payment as it's not worth getting assaulted over.


And yet, there have been reports of people being arrested over it.


Yes, Metro police does enforcement. Not the bus driver.

I'm also pretty sure that police can only issue a citation for fare evasion in DC. Any arrests are only happening when the person is also committing another crime.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 19:14     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I take the bus at least 3 days a week, and I’ve never seen a kid of any age scan a card, on any day of the week. It would be different for metro if you’re not with them, of course, since they can’t get through the turnstile. I also had never heard the “educational” limitation.


My kid has one and rarely scanned it last year. He said the bus driver didn't care and knows he's a student (wears a school uniform, bookbag and using during before school/directly after school hours). He literally had it on him every day. However, this year I told him he has to. I told him I don't care what the bus driver does or doesn't say, scan the card you're literally carrying with your school ID.


Bus drivers are explicitly told not to enforce fare payment as it's not worth getting assaulted over.


And yet, there have been reports of people being arrested over it.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 14:42     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I take the bus at least 3 days a week, and I’ve never seen a kid of any age scan a card, on any day of the week. It would be different for metro if you’re not with them, of course, since they can’t get through the turnstile. I also had never heard the “educational” limitation.


My kid has one and rarely scanned it last year. He said the bus driver didn't care and knows he's a student (wears a school uniform, bookbag and using during before school/directly after school hours). He literally had it on him every day. However, this year I told him he has to. I told him I don't care what the bus driver does or doesn't say, scan the card you're literally carrying with your school ID.


Bus drivers are explicitly told not to enforce fare payment as it's not worth getting assaulted over.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 06:55     Subject: Re:Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:How do you get the card? Just ask the front desk at school?

Also another question: We have one in DC public and one in a private school but the school is in Maryland. Can the child in private also get a card because we live in DC?


Yes, ask the front desk at school.

If you read this code https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-16#%C2%A76044 (that someone else posted) it says private and parochial in DC are included.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 06:52     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:I genuinely think that the city doesn't mind if Kids Ride Free on the transit system. This is from the website:

"The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program allows students to ride for free on Metrobus or Metrorail while traveling within the District."

Mayor Bowser started this because she wanted to take away this obstacle to getting to school. The city has an attendance problem and this is one way to help, and they clearly state that kids can ride transit to school for free.

For many kids, particularly middle and high school kids, this is 10x per week.

Because of the way the cards are designed, they also use it whenever they want to. I'm sure the city understands that this means that kids can use it all week long and on the weekends and they can eat that cost, but that it's worth it to help kids get to school.



+1000
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2025 06:51     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:I take the bus at least 3 days a week, and I’ve never seen a kid of any age scan a card, on any day of the week. It would be different for metro if you’re not with them, of course, since they can’t get through the turnstile. I also had never heard the “educational” limitation.


My kid has one and rarely scanned it last year. He said the bus driver didn't care and knows he's a student (wears a school uniform, bookbag and using during before school/directly after school hours). He literally had it on him every day. However, this year I told him he has to. I told him I don't care what the bus driver does or doesn't say, scan the card you're literally carrying with your school ID.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 22:57     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Okay sounds like as long as it’s the kid using it (I’d never let an adult use it!) we’re fine for him to use it whenever, that’s the consensus. Aligns with what I’ve heard from others. Thanks all!


That’s not what the majority said though, they said it’s educational use ONLY! I hope they take it away from you for misuse.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 22:33     Subject: Re:Kids Ride Free Cards
How do you get the card? Just ask the front desk at school?

Also another question: We have one in DC public and one in a private school but the school is in Maryland. Can the child in private also get a card because we live in DC?
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 17:04     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
its a fixed amount per card per year
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 14:53     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:So one thing to understand: Every time time a KRF card is swiped, DCPS pays Metro for that ride. I don't know what the agreement is between DCPS and Metro, but this is not the same thing as Metro providing free rides.

Our kids do use KRF for nonschool rides, but 90 percent of the time they are actually swiping to go to/from school.


Not DCPS, but the DC government. This is one of their "transit subsidies" that is paid for by the DC gov.

The KRF card is available even to homeschoolers, so I think it's a pretty broad program.

There are other transit subsidies, like for foster children and kids doing the summer youth employment program. Read about it here: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-16#%C2%A76044

As someone whose kid uses the metro to get to and from school every day, this card is saving us $1000 a year. Thanks Bowser!
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 14:32     Subject: Kids Ride Free Cards
Anonymous wrote:So one thing to understand: Every time time a KRF card is swiped, DCPS pays Metro for that ride. I don't know what the agreement is between DCPS and Metro, but this is not the same thing as Metro providing free rides.

Our kids do use KRF for nonschool rides, but 90 percent of the time they are actually swiping to go to/from school.


Actually, DC pays Metro a fixed amount per student per year. How frequently each student uses their card has no impact how much DC pays.