By: Diane Benjamin
This is the first of at least two Connect Transit stories today. This continues reporting on two previous stories:
http://blnnews.com/2015/10/23/connect-transit-more-money/
http://blnnews.com/2015/10/27/hows-connect-transit-ridership/
No ID required to VOTE,
but you need a photo ID to get free or reduced fare bus ride.
(Protecting the integrity of elections isn’t as important as protecting who rides for free or cheap)
From the Connect transit website: http://connect-transit.com/fares/passes.asp
BEAM Pass (or Circuit Breaker)
- Once eligible, applicant can come to Connect Transit with a photo ID. A photo will be taken and a Free Ride Transit Pass will be issued with an expiration date.
Disabled Half Fare Pass
- Riders are requested to come to Connect Transit Administration office to obtain a pass.
- A photo ID and Medicare Card are required to determine eligibility. (a Medicaid card or SSI statement will NOT be accepted)
Senior Free Ride Pass
- Senior Free Ride pass allows riders 65 years of age and older to ride Connect Transit Fixed Route buses for FREE.
- Riders are requested to come to Connect Transit Administration office to obtain a pass.
- A photo ID stating age is required.
ISU Student and Faculty Passes
- Students are issued IDs at class registration. These ISU issued photo IDs can be presented for free rides on ISU Shuttles and Fixed Route buses on Connect Transit.
Heartland Community College and Lincoln College Passes
- Students are issued IDs at class registration for each semester. Students are issued a sticker for their passes for each new semester that they are enrolled.
State Farm Passes
- State Farm Employees can obtain a photo bus pass at State Farm Security to present to drivers for free rides on Connect Transit fixed routes.
Try cashing a check with no ID, try boarding a plane with no ID, Try checking into a motel with no ID, try getting through the doors at SF with no ID. But voters…..?
Come on in, everyone is welcome!
Two questions. Does Connect Transit keep track of how many “free” rides are used and on what routes? And why do SF employees get free ride passes?
I’m getting to that! (at least part of it – more FOIA requests would be required)
Yeah, what’s up with the privileged at SF? Wow! Free bus rides and still the cheapest tippers in town!
And, ISU students get free rides but some still want free tuition and $15/hr pay.
ISU students pay student fees that go to bus service. Connect Transit operates the campus shuttles, and students can ride all Connect Transit busses without paying additional fees — effectively they pay for a bus pass as part of their student fees. It is not “free” fro students.
Thank you J for the clarification. The fares for students are reduced to about 50% with no charge for transfers. Faculty also benefit from this arrangement with Connect Transit. They do not pay student fees.
Probably a good way for schools to make a few bucks. Charge every student, not every student rides.
Progressive Socialist need this information for actions too be taken too monitor the aging and disabled, students, State Farm employees, just saying?