KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene residents will have the chance to ride the City Express bus for free every Friday in October starting tomorrow, as part of an initiative to celebrate New Hampshire’s Community Transportation Month.

The program, dubbed “Free Ride Fridays,” aims to promote public transit options and increase awareness of alternatives to personal vehicle use, according to a news release.

The City Express, available to anyone, operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with stops at 24 key locations, including downtown Keene, major shopping centers like Walmart and Market Basket, Cheshire Medical Center, and other health and recreational sites. In addition to scheduled stops, riders can flag down the bus along its route as long as it is safe to stop.

Normally, a single ride costs $1, but throughout October, residents can ride for free on Fridays. No reservations are required, and passengers of all ages are welcome. Children under 12 ride for free year-round, and a variety of pass options are available, including a 30-day unlimited pass for $18.

The Friendly Bus, a door-to-door transportation service catering to older adults and individuals with disabilities, will also offer free rides on Fridays in October. The Friendly Bus runs on weekdays and serves popular destinations like grocery stores, medical appointments, the Keene Senior Center, the public library, and the YMCA. Although rides on the Friendly Bus require reservations made a day in advance, passengers aged 60 and older can take advantage of these free Friday rides, with a suggested donation of $1.

In 2022, the average American household spent over $12,000 on automobile-related costs—17 percent of the typical household’s post-tax income, the release said. Public transit, like Keene’s City Express, offers a practical, affordable alternative.

Both the City Express and the Friendly Bus are operated by Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS), a nonprofit that has provided community transportation in Keene for more than 50 years.

HCS also runs the Medical Express, which offers Wednesday rides to Dartmouth Health and the Veteran’s Administration in White River Junction. The transportation services are partially funded by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the City of Keene.

For more information on Free Ride Fridays or other services, residents can contact HCS at 352-2253.