For other posts on the RydeFreeRT program, see category RydeFree RT.

Two researchers from University of Texas completed an evaluation of SacRT’s RydeFree RT program in 2021, two years after the program started: RydeFreeRT Evaluation Study: User Demographics, Attitudes, and Impacts on Travel Behavior.

Though the program is now in its fifth year, and much larger in terms of students served, the evaluation does have important data about the benefits, which continue and have increased. “Key findings from the study include:

• A statistically significant increase in the share of students reporting RT use to get to and from school as well as a corresponding statistically significant decrease in the share of students reporting automobile use. This finding is in contrast to prior research showing that new transit riders tend to be pulled from slower modes such as walking and cycling and shows that the program has a potential to create a new generation of new public transit riders.
• Youth who reported using RT also reported that they can more easily access important nonschool destinations because of RydeFreeRT.
• Many students not necessarily using RT to get to school regularly reported they are using the service more to get to after-school and non-school activities because of RydeFreeRT.
• Fewer Latinx youth reported knowing about the program after its implementation demonstrating that outreach efforts may have been inadequate.”

The evaluation indicated that student transit trips were replacing motor vehicle trips, and not replacing walking and bicycling trips, which demonstrates the climate benefits.

There are a number of interesting charts and tables available in the evaluation.

Though the evaluation only hints at it, the greatest benefit may be in increasing attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism. This is of great importance to the community, and directly benefits school districts by increasing average daily attendance and the state funding based on that.

This evaluation covered only Sacramento City Unified students. Dan Allison was working in San Juan Unified at the time, and knows that there were similar or greater benefits for that school district. It had strong support from school principals who saw immediate benefits in attendance.

STAR is unaware of any ongoing research about program benefits and student data, but hopes there is.

• RydeFree RT