Free Earth Day rides in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz METRO will waive fares across Santa Cruz County on Wednesday, April 22, for Earth Day. (scmetro.org) The free rides apply to all fixed-route buses, ParaCruz paratransit service, and the Highway 17 Express, according to the transit agency’s Earth Day page and an April 7 news release. (scmetro.org 1) (scmetro.org 2) METRO staff are also scheduled to appear at two outreach events: the Earth Day Santa Cruz festival in downtown Santa Cruz on Saturday, April 18, and an Earth Day event at the Watsonville Transit Center on April 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (scmetro.org) (watsonville.gov) The downtown festival ran from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Cooper Street, Pacific Avenue, and Abbott Square Market, with live music, hands-on activities, vendors, and workshops listed by organizers and the City of Santa Cruz. (earthdaysc.org) (santacruzca.gov) Earth Day falls on April 22 each year, and 2026 marks the 56th anniversary of the event, according to regional event listings. Santa Cruz METRO tied the fare waiver to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and cleaner-air messaging around transit use. (eastbaytimes.com) (scmetro.org) For riders, the promotion temporarily suspends fares that normally apply on local routes and on the Highway 17 Express, which is usually sold separately from local service in METRO’s fare brochure. (scmetro.org) Santa Cruz METRO has used the same Earth Day play before. Local coverage in 2025 and 2026 described the agency’s countywide free-ride program as an annual event tied to Earth Day outreach. (lookout.co) (santacruzsentinel.com) The offer lasts one day, ending after April 22 service, with METRO using the holiday to put buses — and the Watsonville and downtown events around them — in front of more residents. (scmetro.org)