All Whatcom Transportation Authority bus rides and paratransit rides within the county are free from Thursday, Aug. 8 until Saturday, Aug. 17.
WTA’s Free Fare Days program coincides with the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden. Encouraging people to hop on the bus is a way to alleviate congestion and help fairgoers avoid the cost and hassle of parking. The no-cost days also show appreciation for regular riders and motivate new ones.
Michael Grass, a Fairhaven resident who has lived mostly car-free for 20 years, writes BhamByBus, a newsletter and guide focused on transit in and around Bellingham. He said many residents and visitors don’t realize how convenient WTA buses can be for local and regional trips.
“For those who are new to transit or rarely use the bus, Free Fare Days can be a good opportunity to explore Bellingham and Whatcom County and figure out ways the bus might be able to get them to the places they’d ordinarily drive to,” Grass said. He pointed out that popular destinations with limited parking like Fairhaven, Whatcom Falls Park and Taylor Dock are all served by bus lines.
Route 26, which runs hourly between Cordata Station and Lynden, will provide regular bus service to the fairgrounds. Weekday service on that line operates from 6:30 a.m. to 8:48 p.m., Saturday buses run 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday buses run 8:05 a.m. to 6:05 p.m. Free parking is available at Cordata Station, but overnight parking is not permitted. (For those traveling from central Bellingham, Route 15 connects Bellingham Station and Cordata Station.)
Free Fare Days does not extend to Route 80X service to Mount Vernon. Kids 18 and under always ride free.
“From all my years riding buses, I’ve seen how young children can find great joy riding the bus and watching the world go by,” Grass said. “If you’re someone seeking free kids entertainment, Free Fare Days are a good excuse to hop on a bus.”
His suggestions for entertaining rides include Route 1 between downtown and Fairhaven, which offers amazing views of Bellingham Bay, and Route 232, which does a 360-degree loop around Cordata Parkway’s roundabout at Westerly Road before pulling into Cordata Station.
WTA’s website includes an interactive map with all routes and a trip planner that helps riders find bus stops closest to them.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
