The Kids Ride Free program allows D.C. residents ages 5 to 21 who are enrolled in public, parochial or independent schools or kids in District care to ride free during the school year. Students will receive cards from their school.
Designated faregates are labeled as “Kids Ride Free” and students are asked to use these at stations that have higher school commuting traffic. These stations are: Anacostia, Congress Heights, Minnesota Ave, NoMa-Gallaudet, L’Enfant Plaza, Waterfront, Tenleytown, Columbia Heights, Georgia Ave-Petworth, and Stadium-Armory.
Stations will have managers nearby in case students forget their Kids Ride Free metro card to allow them through the faregate. In this instance, the station manager will record the student’s school to help distribute new cards. Metro is currently working on making it possible for students with smartphones to add their Kids Ride Free card to their mobile wallet.