The My Summer Ride program was deemed successful enough that the city has brought it back for another year. It runs through August 7.
The Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS) is facilitating the program. Children up to age 18 can ride along the fixed METS routes, and METS Mobility routes.
My Summer Ride was created to reduce transportation barriers that can prevent young people from accessing jobs, summer programs, libraries, parks, and “other vital community resources.”
Executive Director of Transportation and Services Todd Robertson spoke about youths accessing the program, at the 2025 launch.
“Hopefully, this will also promote to them and let them know how the system works and how they can benefit from using our transit to be able to access and opportunities that they may not have in their own community.”
My Summer Ride is part of the City’s Safe Summer Initiative. Passes are being handed out at locations such as city pools, the METS administration building and the CK Newsome Center.
The idea is to make things like enrichment, education and even employment opportunities easier and safer to access.
Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry spoke about this at the launch event in 2025. “We know that the lack of transportation is one of the biggest barriers youth face, especially in households with a set without a second car, a flexible schedule or the means to get from place to place.”
Students who may appear older than 18, should be prepared to show school ID or a report card when picking up their bus passes.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
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