MCAT will offer free rides throughout the service day, from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., including Route 99 riders going into Sarasota. The promotion is part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s awareness campaign to get commuters to consider alternative modes of transportation, especially for work commutes typically involving one vehicle transporting one person.
MCAT Manager Bill Steele said Try Transit Day is a great way to highlight the benefits public transportation offers riders, including saving money on fuel, improving the environment by cutting down on carbon emissions and additional productive time on the commute to and from work.
“Try Transit Day has become one of MCAT’s most popular promotions of the year,” Steele said. “MCAT benefits the environment and mitigates traffic in our county. Public transit offers much more than saving you the cost of increasing fuel prices. The indirect savings also includes areas of auto insurance, auto maintenance, and it can relieve you of the stress from bumper to bumper traffic.”
MCAT routes were recently loaded into Google Transit Maps making route information available on all computers and smart phones with an Internet connection.
MCAT serves Bradenton, Ellenton, Palmetto and the gulf beach communities. Fixed route buses run 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Anna Maria Island Trolley and Beach Express service is available every day of the week. Fares are $1.25 each way; transfers are 25¢ each. Accepted forms of payment include U.S. coins and currency, M-Card, or R-Card transit passes.
For information on MCAT routes and schedules visit www.mymanatee.org/mcat or call (941) 747-8621. To register for more information on car pools, transit, biking, walking and running as alternatives, visit www.commuterservicesFL.com
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