ComoConnect busses will be free to ride Tuesday and on every Election Day for the rest of the year.
The Public Works Department made the decision after one Columbia resident took to Facebook to request free Election Day rides. Katie Huddlestonsmith is a firm believer in the importance of voting and proposed the idea.
“If they think that they have anything that worth saying, then they need to get out and use what is given to them by the constitution, which is their right to vote,” Huddlestonsmith said.
Huddlestonsmith was planning an Election Day carpool when she had the idea and wrote to the city. She took to social media and within a matter of weeks, the Public Works Department answered her request.
“I was really surprised it happened so quickly,” Huddlestonsmith said. “I was really proud of my city for making the decision quickly enough to allow people to take part in the primary election.”
City busses have provided free rides before to the True/False film festival and the Roots N Blues BBQ Festival, but never before have rides been offered on election days.
“We will be monitoring it this year through each Election Day and we’ll kind of see what comes of that,” City Multimodal Manager Drew Brocks said. “If it looks like we’ve had increased ridership as a result, then we’ll probably continue.”
Free Rides will offered Apr. 5 for the general municipal election, Aug. 2 for the primary election, and Nov. 8 for the general election.