Huntsville Transit to give free rides to college students and staff next week for Earth Day

Earth Day is Friday, April 22, and the City of Huntsville and Huntsville Transit want to celebrate the ideals of Earth Day by providing free rides to college students and staff next week.

From April 18-22, anyone presenting a valid college ID can board a Huntsville Orbit bus for free. The offer applies to students, staff and faculty at all Huntsville-area colleges and universities.

What do free bus rides have to do with Earth Day?

The promotion is Huntsville Transit’s way of celebrating Earth Day on April 22, as Huntsville’s Operation Green Team will celebrate the observance locally on Saturday, April 23, at Hays Nature Preserve.

Director of Parking and Public Transit Quisha Bryant said the free ride promotion is a great way to get young adults thinking about the benefits of public transit, especially for those who don’t have a vehicle. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to show how public transit benefits the environment because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

“Every person who rides an Orbit bus represents one less vehicle on the road. As our population continues to grow, public transit will not only reduce traffic on our highways, but it will also help reduce our carbon footprint.”

Quisha Bryant, Huntsville Parking & Public Transit Director

According to a greenhouse gas study by the American Public Transportation Association, surface transportation is responsible for 85 percent of transportation sector emissions. The study also found public transportation can reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 37 million metric tons annually.

Get familiar with Huntsville Transit

Huntsville’s bus system, Orbit, operates Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. New routes, extended hours, Saturday service. Maps can be found on Huntsville Transit‘s website.

“It’s important for all of us to do our part to help the environment, and this is just one small way Huntsville Transit can contribute,”

Quisha Bryant, Huntsville Parking & Public Transit Director

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