Today marks 33 years of fare-free service. (Photo property Island Transit)
The buses have been running longer than I’ve lived on Whidbey Island.
My family moved here in 1989, but Island Transit has been offering fare-free service since 1987.
In fact, today, Tuesday, December 1, 2020, marks a complete 33-year run of getting passengers where they need to be, without them having to fumble through their pockets for change.
And since 33 is the magic number — the one my favorite player, Larry Bird, wore during his NBA career — that makes it even better
On Island Transit’s first day in ’87, it transported 161 riders.
In 2019, that number had risen to 860,811 rides across Whidbey and Camano Islands, accomplished via buses, paratransit vehicles, and vanpools.
Coupeville Sports 