COLUMBIA — Columbia Transit will waive the normal bus fare for bicyclists as long as rack space is available through Friday as part of Bike, Walk & Wheel Week 2009 events. The transit system will also waive all fees on Thursday.
All Columbia Transit buses are equipped with bike racks to accommodate two single-seat, standard wheel size bikes. Bikes must be loaded and unloaded by the biker, according to instructions printed on the rack.
Not a biker? "Try Transit Thursday" allows everybody to ride the city buses for free all day, along all routes and schedules.
The eighth annual Bike, Walk & Wheel Week offers other similar activities throughout the week designed to familiarize Columbia with more active ways to get around town, particularly biking, walking or fuel-efficient methods such as the public transit system.
"We encourage residents to consider combining biking as part of their trip, and catch Columbia Transit for the remainder of their journey if they live far from a bus stop," said Jill Stedem, public information specialist for the Public Works Department.
As Columbia continues to grow, public transportation becomes more important to alleviating traffic congestion, conserving energy and protecting the environment, Stedem said.
"Columbia Transit has participated in Bike, Walk and Wheel Week for several years," Stedem said. "We want people to consider Columbia Transit when looking for alternative modes of transportation."