NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (KFSM) -- Ozark Regional Transit will be offering free rides on their Northwest Arkansas routes during March 20-25.
The transportation company is offering the rides to show their customers how much they appreciate them. The free fare period affects fixed-route services only.
About four years ago they decided to give free rides during the entire month of December. Now they've decided to split it up into four separate weeks throughout the year, instead of combining them all into one month, so that there's a greater outreach.
However, the impact of the free rides is two fold, as not only do regular customers get a break for a week, but people who have never taken the system before can try it out. The company urges first-time riders to report back to ORT to let them know about their experiences.
"My opinion of public transportation in any community, it's for you and I for us to have a choice other than taking our own vehicle, even though I'm the typical American with 2.8 vehicles in the driveway," said Joel Gardner, the executive director of the Ozark Regional Transit.