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Zero Fare for Youth

A person in a red shirt and brown jacket stands outdoors on a residential street, holding up a blue and green card that says Zero Fare for Youth. Trees and parked cars line the street in the background, and houses are visible on both sides. The person is smiling and looking at the camera.

HOW TO RIDE

Watch a hilarious video on how to ride with STA
A young man with curly hair, wearing a dark blue dress shirt, stands smiling in front of a colorful background featuring a building and trees. The large text to his right reads "THAT'S BUSSIN'." The background has a purple hue and a striped pattern, highlighting the new Zero Fare for Youth program.

THAT’S BUSSIN’

Check out our hit series on
the ins and outs of the STA bus system
A city bus with route number 2614 is parked at a bus stop. It features a bike rack at the front and a greenish-blue exterior promoting Zero Fare for Youth. The sky is partly cloudy, and a smaller, similarly colored bus is visible in the background.

TRIP PLANNING

Plan your next trip with STA

Youth Ride Free on STA!

STA makes it easy for youth to ride transit. All youth 18 and under ride free. Here’s how:

An image showing a transit card with the label "CONNECT by Spokane Transit" partially overlaid by a circular logo that reads "Rider's License." The background is a blue gradient, with the text "Rider's License" prominently displayed in white in the center, promoting Zero Fare for Youth.
A light green graphic depicts a student ID card with the text "SPS High School Student ID" written prominently in white. The ID, which supports Zero Fare for Youth, contains a faint silhouette of a person's head and shoulders and some indecipherable text and barcode lines below.
A graphic with a blue background features an icon of a phone with the text "Zero Fare for Youth" written across it in bold white letters.
A teal-colored image featuring an icon of a photo and a thumbs-up symbol with the text "Other Options" in white, overlayed in the center, highlights the "Zero Fare for Youth" initiative.
A logo of the Climate Commitment Act, Which says: "funded by washington's climate commitment act'

Funding from the Climate Commitment Act supports STA bus and Paratransit service, including free fare for youth.

An image shows a Spokane Transit Rider's License card. The card is blue and white with a partial cityscape and bridge design, labeled "Connect by Spokane Transit." Next to the card is a circular blue emblem with "Rider's License" and the Spokane Transit logo in the center, highlighting Zero Fare for Youth.

ZERO-FARE

Rider’s License

A free Rider’s License Connect card offers youth unlimited rides on all STA routes.

Youth can apply online, visit Customer Service at STA Plaza, or any local Spokane, Liberty Lake, or County library branch. There is no cost for the card!

Note: Every physical Connect card and eConnect card are separate, so you can’t switch between them to pay fare from the same account.

Apply Online
  • Available to youth age 6-18
  • Unlimited rides on STA without fare
  • Issued by Spokane Transit
  • Contact STA for questions
A stylized high school ID card with diagonal blue stripes in the top left corner, the text "YOUR HIGH SCHOOL" below the stripes, a barcode at the bottom, and a gray silhouette representing a person on the right side.

SPS High School Student ID

SPS high school student IDs also offer free, unlimited bus rides with STA. Just tap your Student ID on the validator when you get on the bus.

  • Available to all SPS high school students
  • Unlimited rides on STA without fare
  • Issued by Spokane Public Schools
  • Contact your local school for questions
A blue and white stylized icon of a smartphone displaying a QR code in its center, promoting Zero Fare for Youth. The icon also features a wavy pattern and a small circular emblem in the bottom right corner of the phone screen.

Use Your Phone (with the STA Connect app)

If you have a Rider’s License or an online account with an eConnect card, contact Customer Service to have them add your Rider’s License to the eConnect card.

If you don’t have a Connect account or a Rider’s License, first register an online Connect account and create an eConnect card in the STA Connect app. Then use your eConnect number when applying for your Rider’s License.

Note: Every physical Connect card and eConnect card are separate, so you can’t switch between them to pay fare from the same account.

Other Options

If none of the above options work for you, don’t worry — youth 18 and under will not be refused service on STA. Here are some other ways you can ride without fare:

Use Student ID card

Show the bus driver your valid student ID card when you board the bus.

Youth 18 and under ride free

If you don’t have your Rider’s License yet, just board the bus and tell the driver your age. No youth 18 and under will be turned away.

How To Ride

Tap your card to ride!

  • When you board the bus, place your SPS Student ID or Connect card flat against the card reader.
  • When you your card has been validated, you'll hear a beep and see a green check mark.
A rectangular, dark-colored contactless payment terminal is shown at an angle. The terminal features a screen displaying a blue icon with the text "Tap or scan" and a contactless payment symbol below it. The terminal is set against a transparent background.
An illustration of a contactless payment terminal featuring a screen with the icon of a stylized "S" and text that says "Tap or scan." Below the screen is a contactless payment symbol with wavy lines indicating where to tap a card or mobile device.
A rectangular, dark-colored contactless payment terminal is shown at an angle. The terminal features a screen displaying a blue icon with the text "Tap or scan" and a contactless payment symbol below it. The terminal is set against a transparent background.
An illustration of a contactless payment terminal featuring a screen with the icon of a stylized "S" and text that says "Tap or scan." Below the screen is a contactless payment symbol with wavy lines indicating where to tap a card or mobile device.

Rules of Conduct

Riding the bus is safe and fun, but we still have to follow some rules. For the full list, visit here, but here are some highlights: 
 
  • Be courteous and considerate of other riders: move over for others and don’t block spaces or seats.
  • No eating on the bus.
  • Use headphones to listen to audio on mobile devices.
  • Drinks are allowed but must be in covered containers.
  • Stay behind the yellow line at the front of the bus.
  • Don’t distract the driver while the bus is in motion.

Plan Your Trip

Use STA’s online trip planner to find the fastest bus route to your destination. You can also call (509) 328-RIDE for trip planning assistance.

Trip Planner

Riding With an SPS High School Student ID?

Below are routes that serve SPS high schools.

Shadle Park
4327 North Ash Street, Spokane, WA
Rogers
1622 East Wellesley Avenue, Spokane, WA
Pratt Academy
6903 East 4th Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA
On Track Academy
4091 North Regal Street, Spokane, WA
North Central
1600 North Howard Street, Spokane, WA
NEWTech Prep
4141 North Regal Street, Spokane, WA
Lewis & Clark
521 West 4th Avenue, Spokane, WA
Ferris
3020 East 37th Avenue, Spokane, WA
The Community School
1025 West Spofford Avenue, Spokane, WA

Need Assistance?

Questions about SPS Student IDs?

Contact Spokane Public Schools for any questions about SPS Student IDs for high school students.

Questions about Connect cards?

View STA’s answers to common questions about using a Connect card.

Questions about STA bus service?

STA Customer Service is available to assist with many aspects of riding the bus, such as:

  • Assistance with trip planning
  • Finding your bus stops
  • Lost and found
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