Westchester Offering Fare-Free Bee-Line Rides During Summer

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Once again, people who take the Bee-Line buses will not have to cough up fares during the summer.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced Wednesday that fares on Bee-Line buses will be suspended from July 1 until Sept. 4.

The fare suspension will also apply to the county’s ParaTransit system, according to a spokesperson.

Latimer said this was a move the county was able to make for the residents of Westchester due to the fiscal management of his administration.

“From cutting property taxes to ensuring our Public Safety Department is fully funded,” he said, “this is another way County government can improve the lives of the people we serve.”

The county said that, during the summer of 2022, the first fare-free rides program was offered and there was a dramatic increase in ridership. The system experienced a 37 percent increase in riders during the three-month period of June, July and August, compared to the prior three-month period in March, April and May.

The Bee-Line is Westchester County’s bus system, which serves more than 27 million passengers annually. Officials said there is convenient service that connects people to jobs, recreation, shopping and other regional transportation services.

It is the second-largest transit bus fleet in New York and is operated by the county’s Department of Public Works and Transportation.

More than 65 percent of all Westchester residents are within walking distance of a Bee-Line bus route. The system has more than 3,300 bus stops and almost 60 routes. All buses in the system are accessible and are designed with many accessibility features including kneeling buses, ramps and lifts.