Big Blue Bus Offers Free 30 Day Pass for Customers Who Switch to Contactless Payments
May 24, 2021 10:06 AM
SANTA MONICA, CA – Big Blue Bus (BBB) is offering a free 30 Day pass for customers who switch to contactless payments on TAP or mobile ticket. As part of a short-term pilot to help us study the benefits of a cashless system, BBB is going contactless this summer.
As BBB strives to continue to enhance safety for our customers and staff through additional cleaning and disinfecting of our fleet, eliminating cash transactions will make buses safer for both customers and Motor Coach Operators. This effort will also benefit customers as it will greatly reduce boarding times and therefore provide a more efficient and faster trip.
To further incentivize the transition, BBB is also offering discounted Single Ride fares. For those paying with a TAP card or a mobile ticket, Regular customers can ride BBB for $1 each way; Senior/Disabled/Medicare customers ride for just $0.40.
“To encourage customers to try TAP or mobile ticketing, Big Blue Bus is offering a free 30 Day pass and discounted Single Rides. By trying these options, we hope that customers experience the tangible benefits of contactless fares, including how convenient and economical these choices can be,” said Ed King, Director of the Santa Monica Department of Transportation.
There are two ways customers can access the free 30 Day pass. Options include downloading the Transit app to an Apple or Android smartphone and creating an account to get the pass, or by visiting Blue: The Transit Store to pick up the pass on a TAP card. The Transit Store is located at 1444 4th St., in Downtown Santa Monica. To help customers decide which contactless option works best for them, BBB encourages scheduling in-person appointments with Transit Store staff at santamonica.gov/appointment, or by calling (310) 451-5444.
Customers may redeem one (1) free BBB 30 Day pass during the promotional period, from now through Thursday, July 15. For more details, visit bigbluebus.com/quitcash.
About Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus operates a fleet of 189 vehicles transporting passengers daily across a 58-square mile service area. Nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to a cleaner environment, the agency added its first zero-emission bus in 2019. The rest of the fleet operates on other alternative fuels, including renewable natural gas (RNG), a form of liquefied and compressed natural gas (LNG/CNG), which helps cut emissions by up to 90 percent. Serving Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area since 1928, Big Blue Bus has won numerous awards for its marketing, customer service, safety, and efficiency.
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Media Contact
Jennie Campos
Community Engagement & Customer Experience Manager
Jennie.Campos@SMGOV.NET