Pasadena Transit to Offer Free Rides on Election Day
Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride will provide free transportation to voters on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Would you use free transit to get to your polling place on Election Day?
Pasadena Transit and Pasadena Dial-A-Ride will provide free transportation on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Election Day. Metro will also offer free rides on its buses and trains that day.
Why it matters
The free service is intended to make it easier for residents to reach voting locations, which are mostly within a quarter-mile of a Pasadena Transit bus stop. Waiving the usual 75-cent fare removes a cost barrier for voters traveling to the polls.
Pasadena Transit normally charges 75 cents for a full-fare bus ride, and reduced fares for students, seniors, and passengers with disabilities will be waived on Election Day. Los Angeles County vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
The players
Pasadena Transit
The city's public bus system, which normally charges 75 cents for a full-fare ride and is waiving fares on Election Day.
Joaquin Siques
Pasadena's Transportation Director, who announced the fare waiver in the city's October 22 weekly newsletter.
Metro
The Los Angeles County transportation agency, which is providing free rides on its buses and trains on Election Day.
The details
Pasadena Dial-A-Ride, which requires membership and serves eligible residents of Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, and several neighboring unincorporated communities, will also provide free trips, though existing eligibility and reservation requirements remain in effect. Metro Micro, which serves Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, will offer free trips, and Metro Bike Share is offering a free 30-minute ride using promotional code 110326, with a credit or debit card required.
Timeline
October 22, 2026: Transportation Director Joaquin Siques announced the fare waiver in the city's weekly newsletter.
November 3, 2026: Free transit rides take effect and Los Angeles County vote centers open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Political Context
Free transit on Election Day is a method local agencies use to remove transportation costs as a barrier to voting. Pasadena's program extends that approach through its fixed-route bus, paratransit, and shared-mobility services.
Riders can use Pasadena Transit, Dial-A-Ride, and Metro Micro for free on November 3, avoiding the usual 75-cent bus fare. Because most voting locations are within a quarter-mile of a bus stop, many voters can reach the polls without paying a fare.
The takeaway
Voters in Pasadena can get to the polls on November 3 without paying a fare on local buses, Dial-A-Ride, or Metro Micro. Checking the nearest vote center or drop box location before Election Day can help voters plan their trip.
What happens next
Free transit service takes effect on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Election Day.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Pasadena Elections on the local politics section.
More information
Find vote centers and ballot drop boxes on the Los Angeles County vote center and ballot drop box locator.
Live Poll
Would you use free transit to get to your polling place on Election Day?
