Rapid City Transit Reports Strong September Ridership, Driven by Youth Program

The Rapid City Transit System recorded more than 25,000 passenger trips in September, marking the second-highest September ridership total in the past six years.
A key contributor to the increase was the ‘Youth Ride Free’ program, which accounted for nearly 7,500 youth trips last month. Transit officials reported 7,460 youth passenger trips in September, a 10 percent rise from the 6,706 trips logged in September 2024 and a 34 percent jump from the 4,948 recorded in September 2023.
Officials noted that September was the first full month of the current school year, which likely contributed to the surge in youth ridership.
For details about Rapid City Transit services or to register for the Youth Ride Free program, visit www.rapidride.org or call 605-394-6631. Parents and guardians can also sign up online by clicking the ‘Youth Ride Free’ button on the website.