SoCo Residents Invited To Ride Public Transit Fare-Free This Earth Day

ROHNERT PARK AND COTATI, CA — Community members, including those unfamiliar with public transit, are invited to ride fare-free this Saturday.

In celebration of Earth Day, four North Bay public transit agencies — Marin Transit, Petaluma Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus and Sonoma County Transit — are joining forces Saturday to encourage residents and visitors to Go Green and ride fare-free.

"Riding the bus is a positive step in the Green direction. However, public transit isn’t the only Green solution," the agencies said in a joint news release. "Carpooling, walking, cycling, rolling, shifting to an electric vehicle, or shared mobility will benefit our communities on Earth Day and every day of the year."

Offering fare-free access is an opportunity for people to experience the benefits of public transit and reduce emissions by leaving single-occupancy vehicles at home.

Sonoma County travel patterns indicate that 29 percent of residential trips are under two miles and 31 percent are 2-5 miles. These short trip distances are well-suited for walking, biking, rolling or riding public transit, the agencies said.

Transportation continues to be the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in both Marin and Sonoma County.

"This places transit agencies in a unique position to significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions," according to the news release. "All public transit agencies are committed to transitioning to zero-emission buses, as funding is made available, to meet the California Air Resource Board’s CARB Innovative Clean Transit Rule requiring all new buses purchased after 2029 be zero-emission."

Community members are invited to ride fare-free Saturday to the Earth Day Festival in Santa Rosa, the Butter and Eggs Days Parade and Festival in Petaluma, or the Apple Blossom Festival in Sebastopol.

For more information on the fare-free day, as well as other reduced fare programs visit or call:

• Sonoma County Transit www.sctransit.com, 1-800-345-7433
• Marin Transit www.marintransit.org/, 415-455-2000
• Petaluma Transit www.transit.cityofpetaluma.net, 707-778-4460
• Santa Rosa CityBus www.srcity.org/CityBus, 707-543-3333