Mayor Sheffield, DDOT launch “Ride to Rise,” providing free bus rides for all Detroit K-12 students

• Starting today all Public, Private, Charter school students can "show their ID to ride for free" anytime to any place DDOT services
• Program to help reduce absenteeism, connect students to after school programs, tutoring, enrichment programs and more
• City-funded program will take financial burden off DPSCD, allowing it to use funding for other district priorities

Mayor Mary Sheffield today officially launched Ride to Rise: Show ID, Students Ride Free, an initiative that removes one of the most overlooked barriers standing between Detroit's young people and their future: getting there.

Effective today, any Detroit K-12 student aged 5-18 student can board any DDOT city bus for free, any time of day, seven days a week, simply by showing their school-issued ID. No fare. No pass. No paperwork. This means getting to school, after-school programs, tutoring sessions, enrichment activities, and more.

Developed in close partnership with DPSCD and Detroit's charter school community, the program is open to all K-12 students in any Detroit-area school, public, charter, or private. The Mayor was joined at the announcement by DPSCD Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti and charter school leaders, including CEO of New Paradigm for Education Ralph Bland, which represents many charter schools in Detroit.

Announced during her State of the City address, Ride to Rise is a direct fulfillment of Mayor Mary Sheffield's promise to make Detroit's young people an explicit priority of her administration, ensuring that city government, schools, and community partners are working together toward the success of every Detroit child. This program directly reinforces Mayor Mary Sheffield's commitment to Detroit's children and aligns with her administration's bold new investment in the city's educational ecosystem.

"Detroit's young people deserve a city that prioritizes every young person and ensures they have access and opportunities to grow and thrive," said Mayor Sheffield. "Ride to Rise ensures that no young person misses a chance to learn or grow simply because they couldn't get there."

HOW IT WORKS

Students simply present their valid school-issued ID to the bus operator upon boarding - no app, no pass, no paperwork required. The program covers all standard city bus routes, any time of day, seven days a week.

• Who qualifies: Any K-12 student enrolled in public, charter, or private school with a valid school-issued ID.
• When it's valid: 7 days a week and 365 days because learning doesn't stop at 3 p.m. or on summer vacation.

PROGRAM GOALS

• Reduce chronic absenteeism by removing cost and access as barriers to getting to school
• Connect students to opportunity including after-school programs, libraries, community centers, internships, and enrichment activities
• Support working families by reducing the transportation burden on parents and guardians
• Build ridership habits that benefit students well into adulthood

The problem is real and so is the solution. Chronic absenteeism is one of the most pressing challenges for schools. Research consistently shows that students who miss 10 percent or more of the school year fall significantly behind their peers. For many students, the obstacle isn't motivation, it's getting there. Some parents are working multiple jobs, juggling unpredictable schedules, and simply cannot always be there to get their child to school or an after-school program.

Many Detroit parents are working multiple jobs with unpredictable schedules and cannot always be there to get their child to school or an after-school program. Nearly 30 percent of Detroiters do not own a car and families already struggling to make ends meet often bear the financial burden of bus transportation to keep their children actively engaged.

"When students can't get to school, everything else suffers. Missing too many days means falling behind, losing confidence, and being cut off from the routines that keep young people on track. Ride to Rise is the city's direct answer to that reality," said Dr. Chanel Hampton, Senior Director of Youth and Education Liaison to the Mayor.

To help make sure DDOT is a reliable resource for students and the public, Mayor Mary Sheffield has proposed a $30M increase in the DDOT budget to provide for higher wages for more skilled maintenance technicians and bus drivers. DDOT is currently in the process of receiving 49 new buses and tomorrow will graduate one of its largest classes of new bus drivers, with more than 50 expected to join the ranks of DDOT.

"All of us at DDOT are proud to provide this service to all Detroit K-12 students to help them succeed in school and in life," said Executive Director of Transit Robert Cramer. "Every DDOT route, every day, is now available to Detroit students anytime they need it at no cost. That is a huge change for families across the city."

Ride to Rise also to fuel after school program expansion

Having the City provide bus fare for all students will relieve schools of the administrative and financial burden so they can reinvest those resources into their students in other meaningful ways.

"When you think of one of the challenges that we have in our city, it's access to transportation and the consistency and reliability of doing that." Dr. Nikolai Vetti, Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) said. "DPSCD for decades have been investing in students using city buses to get to and from school every day for high school. With about 14,000 that rely on city busses, this investment by the Mayor and the city will allow us to reinvest in student programing."

"Consistent success begins with consistent access. Mayor Mary Sheffield's commitment to providing free transportation for K-12 students is a direct investment in Detroit's youth-ensuring scholars can get to school on time, every day, while reducing chronic absenteeism. This initiative removes a real barrier for Detroit families and reinforces that students must be present to succeed." Ralph Bland, CEO of New Paradigm and Co-President of Detroit Regional Charter Leaders said. "Reliable transportation also expands access beyond the school day-connecting youth to after-school programs, early work opportunities, and the experiences that shape their future. When Detroit's students can consistently get where they need to be-at school and beyond-they don't just have access-they have a path to success."

Ride to Rise launches today as a six-month initiative, with the city actively developing long-term infrastructure to make free student transit permanent.