Navigating Public Transport: Understanding Bus Fare Requirements

Whether you're a regular commuter or a tourist, it's important to know how to pay your bus fare. In Los Angeles, for example, you can pay with a TAP card, Apple Wallet, TAP app, or cash. TAP cards are available for purchase at TAP vending machines (TVMs) in all Metro rail, J, and G Line stations, as well as various stores across L.A. such as Ralph's and Northgate Market. The TAP app can be downloaded on your phone, but it's important to note that you can only have either the physical card or the app, not both. The cost of a ride varies depending on your age, student status, and income level, with seniors, students, and low-income riders receiving discounts. So, before you board the bus, make sure you have the correct fare ready, as fare boxes do not provide change.

Payment methods: cash, card, or app

The payment methods for bus fare depend on the location and the bus company. In this response, I will cover the payment methods for a few bus services.

LA Metro

LA Metro offers a reloadable TAP card that can be used for paying fares on Metro bus and rail. The TAP card can be purchased for $2 plus the fare and includes transfers to Metro rail and bus. It can be bought online, on the TAP app (available on the App Store and Google Play), by phone, or at TAP Vending Machines and Vendor Locations. LA Metro also accepts cash payments on buses that do not have All-Door Boarding.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)

OCTA accepts cash payments on buses, with the bus fare boxes taking all coins except pennies, and bills of $10 and under. OCTA also offers prepaid bus passes that can be purchased online or at local retailers. Additionally, they have the OC Bus App, which allows users to plan, pay, and ride using their smartphones.

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)

MTS riders can pay for their bus and trolley trips using the PRONTO app, a PRONTO card, or cash. The PRONTO card can be purchased for a one-time fee of $2 and loaded with money through the app, online, at retail outlets, or by phone. Cash payments are accepted on buses, but only in exact change for one-way trips, and do not include transfers to other routes or lines.

Clipper Card

The Clipper Card is a payment method accepted by several transit systems in California, including Caltrain, Elk Grove Transit, Foothill Transit, Golden Gate Transit, and Santa Clara Valley Transit. It can be used as a form of payment when purchasing tickets or passes online or at ticket vending machines.

Reduced fares for seniors and students

In the United States, public transportation systems that receive federal funding are required to offer reduced fares to seniors and people with disabilities. Seniors are typically defined as individuals aged 65 years or older, but the transit authority may set a lower limit. For example, in New York, seniors are eligible for reduced fares from age 65, whereas in New Jersey, the reduced fare program is available to seniors aged 62 and above.

People with disabilities are also eligible for reduced fares, and this includes individuals who, due to illness, injury, age, congenital malfunction, or other permanent or temporary incapacity, are unable to use mass transportation facilities and services effectively. In some cases, personal assistants or companions of individuals with disabilities may also be able to ride for free.

Additionally, transportation systems may offer reduced fares to students, as many students rely on public transportation to get to and from school. For example, the LA Metro offers reduced fares to college/vocational students and K-12 students enrolled in schools located in Los Angeles County.

To apply for a reduced fare program, individuals typically need to submit an application and provide proof of eligibility, such as a photo ID, birth certificate, or documentation of their disability status.

Free rides for children under 5

When it comes to bus fare, different cities and companies have different rules. However, a common rule across many places is that children under 5 ride for free. For example, children under 5 can ride for free on the Metrolink during weekends. Similarly, at Walt Disney World, children under 3 enter the park for free. Additionally, Six Flags Magic Mountain in LA has several rides for children that are free for kids below a certain height when accompanied by an adult.

Monthly passes

In Edmonton, for example, the Arc Card system offers monthly passes with a daily fare cap, and youth and senior citizens' discounts. Edmonton also offers a Ride Transit Program, which provides monthly passes at subsidised rates for eligible low-income individuals and families.

In California, the LA County MTA offers a 30-day pass for $14, while the Long Beach Public Transit 30-day pass costs $65. The Metro Transit System in San Diego offers a range of monthly passes, including a $72 regional pass and an $18 regional senior/disabled/Medicare monthly pass.

Buying a TAP card

If you're regularly using buses and other forms of public transport, buying a TAP card can be a convenient way to pay your fare. A TAP card is a reusable prepaid card that you can use to pay for your journeys on 27 systems across LA County. You can also use it to transfer between systems within 2.5 hours of the first tap of your journey.

There are several ways to buy and reload a TAP card:

• Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs): These machines are located at Metro rail stations, including all Metro rail, J and G Line stations, as well as Metro Silver Line and Metro Orange Line stations, and at the El Monte Station. You can use a credit card or cash to buy or reload your TAP card at these machines.
• Metro Customer Centers: You can buy TAP cards and reload them at Metro Customer Centers.
• Retail Stores: You can buy TAP cards at various retail stores across L.A., including Ralph's, Northgate Market, and Continental Currency.
• Online: You can buy or reload your TAP card online at taptogo.net. You will need to create a TAP account and can use payment options like a credit card, TAP account cash, or PayPal.
• TAP App: You can also use the TAP app on your smartphone or smartwatch to buy or reload your TAP card. The fare is ready to use immediately, and you can use payment options like a credit card, TAP account cash, Apple Pay, GPay, or cash.
• Phone: Call TAP Customer Service at 866.TAPTOGO (866.827.8646) to buy or reload your TAP card over the phone.

When buying a TAP card, there is a $2 card issuance fee, and you can add Stored Value in amounts ranging from $5 to $100. Registering your TAP card is recommended, as it allows you to access discounts and promotions, and it also protects your card balance if the card is lost or stolen.

Frequently asked questions