Here in Santa Fe a bus ride is only 50 cents for seniors. It's free for students with a school ID. I have more than once been on a bus, and someone obviously of high school age gets on, but doesn't have school ID. The driver always says something like, "I'll make an exception now, but you absolutely must have your school ID next time you ride." I like how they don't punish the kids, or toss them off the bus.
When I was in kindergarten, in Utica, NY, I rode the public bus home from kindergarten by myself. It was a half day program, so I got out at noon, and my older brother and sister were still in school. I was very small for my age, looked no more than three, but the regular driver on the run quickly learned to recognize me and pick me up. One time, my regular driver was on vacation, or off for some reason, and the substitute driver took one look at this apparent three year old and didn't stop. Nor did the next bus. I was crying by then, and my older brother, then in 6th grade, saw me from the playground of the school, came over, found out what was wrong, and when the next bus came along, stopped it, read the driver the riot act, and got me on. Wonderful brother!
The children's fare back then (1955/56) was seven cents. I'd frequently lose the pennies, making the bus drivers crazy. Looking back, it shouldn't have been such an odd amount.
But taking a public bus by myself at such a young age gave me a lot of independence. Not that I took it by myself other than coming home from school, but it really was a lesson in independence.
I have a good friend who lives in the Pittsburgh area, and while he doesn't take the bus very often, he is very happy that when he does it is free.
Oh, and better yet, the wonderful Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, Quentin Lucas, has made all public transportation free. What a great guy. Oh, and in the interest of disclosure, my sons went to school with him, although neither was in his grade.
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