Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) Sioux Falls City Council on Wednesday formally launched the 'Dog Days of Summer' pilot program that provides free bus rides to children through September 7th.
Anyone under 18 can get a free bus pass called a dog tag, but children under 11 must be with an adult rider.
Council hopes the free rides will eventually lead to increased ridership as the kids learn how to ride the buses so will continue to ride when they become adults. Council Chairman Kenny Anderson Jr. says the small amount of money the city will lose through the free passes for the summer will more than be made up by future benefits to ridership.
Even as the council touts the free pass pilot program, comes words that the council will soon consider proposals to increase city bus fares. Sioux Area Metro fares have not been raised since 1996.