Young people in the Bay Area this summer can ride transit for free or at discounted rates with special seasonal offers or through evergreen programs that give discounts to youth all year long.
Alameda County
Eligible middle schools and high schools can participate in the Alameda County Transportation Commission Student Transit Pass Program that provides free local transit all year long with the agency that serves their school district – AC Transit, Union City Transit or LAVTA/Wheels. Because the pass is on a Youth Clipper® card, riders also get 50% off BART fares and youth discounts on other transit systems. (The program does not include transbay bus routes.) Visit the Alameda CTC website or check with your school for qualifying details.
Contra Costa County
In Contra Costa County, riders age 18 and under can ride free on County Connection, Tri Delta Transit and WestCAT buses, with no pass or ID required. Free rides are available through July 31, 2026. Learn more at 511.ccta.ca.gov or YouthRideFree.com.
Marin County
Marin Transit is offering free rides on all regular bus rides throughout the summer for anyone age 18 or under. Students must show a valid K-12 school or government-issued ID to the driver when boarding – no additional transit pass is required. Children under age 5 ride free when accompanied by an adult.
Youth ages 18 and under (and seniors ages 65+) can ride the SMART trains fare-free. Tickets are not required, though train conductors may ask for proof of age (student ID, state ID or driver’s license).
Napa County
The Vine Transit Summer Youth Pass includes unlimited rides on all Vine Transit routes (including on-demand in city and town limits) for just $20 through August 31, 2026. Must be 18 years old or younger. You can buy the dedicated youth pass online at VineTransit.com.
San Francisco County
In San Francisco, riders 18 years and under can take Muni for free all year long. Rides on all vehicles are free for youth, with no Clipper card or proof of payment required. There is one exception: If you are a regular rider of cable cars, you’ll need to apply for a SFMTA Free Muni for Youth - Cable Car Request pass. Children ages 4 and under always ride free.
Caltrain's year-round discount for youth riders features $1 one-way rides (through all zones) for all Clipper Youth card holders. A monthly pass costs only $24. One child age 4 and under can ride free with one paying adult.
Additionally, riders age 18 and under can purchase a $40 SamTrans Summer Youth Pass that offers unlimited SamTrans rides, including in parts of San Francisco. Read more details below.
San Mateo County
The SamTrans Summer Youth Pass offers riders 18 years old and younger unlimited SamTrans rides through August 31, 2026 for just $40. SamTrans serves San Mateo County, as well as parts of Palo Alto and San Francisco.
See above for details on the Caltrain discount program for youth.
Santa Clara County
VTA’s Summer Youth Pass costs $70 and gives unlimited rides to passengers ages 18 years and younger on VTA bus and light rail trains through August 31, 2026. Not only do you get unlimited transit rides, but some local businesses also offer discounts to pass holders.
Also in Santa Clara County, riders age 18 and under can purchase a $40 SamTrans Summer Youth Pass that offers unlimited SamTrans rides, including in parts of Palo Alto. Read more details above.
The Caltrain youth pass offers $1 rides for Clipper Youth card holders. See above for more details.
Solano County
SolTrans gives free rides to youth ages 6 through 18 on all SolTrans local routes and SolanoExpress lines. No Clipper card or dedicated pass is required. Riders age 16 and above are encouraged to carry a student ID or other form of ID for age verification, if requested.
The Vacaville City Coach Summer Youth Pass includes unlimited fixed-route bus service for riders ages 8 through 18 years old for only $15. Passes can be purchased at Vacaville City Hall, McBride Senior Center, Ulatis Cultural Center and Lucky supermarkets.
Sonoma County
All passengers ages 18 and under can ride free on Sonoma County Transit. No passes are required, but please have ID with proof of age available.
On Santa Rosa CityBus, youth ages 18 and under and Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) students ride free. No passes required. High school students should be prepared to show ID with proof of age and SRJC students will need to show student ID.
Riders of all ages ride for free on Petaluma Transit, all year long, for fixed-route and paratransit service.
Youth ages 18 and under (and seniors ages 65+) can ride SMART trains fare-free. Tickets are not required, though train conductors may ask for proof of age (student ID, state ID or driver’s license).
Youth Discounts Year-Round
While some of the programs above offer limited-time discounts, transit riders ages 5-18 can receive discounts on most Bay Area transit agencies by using the Bay Area’s all-in-one transit card, Clipper. Learn how to apply for a Youth Clipper card at ClipperCard.com.
It’s fast and easy to use Clipper – simply tag and go! Riders can use a physical Clipper card or use a phone/smart watch by adding their Clipper account to an Apple or Google Wallet.
Transit Agencies with Youth Discounts
| Agency | Discount Details |
|---|---|
| AC Transit | 50% discount for youth (ages 5-18). |
| Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) | Up to a 50% discount for youth (ages 6-12). |
| BART | 50% discount for youth (ages 5-18) with Youth Clipper card. |
| Caltrain | One-way fares (through all zones) are $1 with Youth Clipper card. |
| City Coach |
See details of the summer discount pricing above. During other times of the year, youth fares are discounted. Solano Community College Students can ride the SolanoExpress (only within Solano County) and Vacaville City Coach for free. |
| County Connection | See details of the summer discount pricing above. During other times of the year, youth fares are discounted by 50%. |
| Dumbarton Express | 50% discount for youth. |
| FAST | Free fixed-route fares and youth discounts for FAST Connect microtransit. |
| Golden Gate Ferry | Discounts for youth. |
| Golden Gate Transit | Discounts for youth. |
| Marin Transit | $1 fares for youth. |
| Muni | Free for youth. See details above. |
| Napa VINE | Discounted price for youth. |
| Petaluma Transit | Free for all riders. |
| SamTrans | See details of summer pricing above. During other times of the year, youth qualify for a 50% (or more) discount. |
| San Francisco Bay Ferry | 50% discount with Youth Clipper card. |
| Santa Rosa CityBus | Free for youth. See details above. |
| SMART | Free for youth and seniors. See details above. |
| SolTrans | Free for youth. See details above. |
| Sonoma County Transit | Free for youth. See details above. |
| Tri Delta Transit | See details of the summer discount pricing above. |
| Union City Transit | Discounted price for youth. |
| Vine | Discounted price for youth. |
| VTA | Up to 50% discount for youth. Monthly and annual passes are significantly discounted. |
| Wheels | Discount with Youth Clipper card. Eligible 6th-12th grade students may receive free rides through the Alameda County Transportation Commission Student Transit Pass Program. |
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