Every one of Pasadena’s 11 transit routes is free to ride Wednesday — and so is the Dial-A-Ride paratransit service that connects seniors and residents with disabilities across Altadena and San Marino to the rest of the city.
The no-cost rides come on Earth Day, April 22, as the City of Pasadena Department of Transportation observes one of its designated fare-free days throughout the year — a program in place since at least 2019.
The timing is also notable for what it reflects about the system’s direction: Pasadena is in the middle of a $150 million-plus transition to zero-emission transit, with a council-authorized order for 17 hydrogen fuel cell buses already in place.
On Wednesday, in the meantime, no fare, no TAP card, and no payment of any kind is required — riders simply board.
The free-fare offer extends to Pasadena Dial-A-Ride, the shared curb-to-curb service for residents 60 and older and those with qualifying disabilities. The service area covers Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County. Eligible members who have already scheduled rides for Wednesday will travel at no charge; advance reservations — normally required at least 24 hours ahead — are still needed.
Pasadena observes designated fare-free days throughout the year. The full list, according to the city: Transit Equity Day (February 4), Earth Day (April 22), Bike to Work Day (third Thursday in May), Clean Air Day (first Wednesday in October), Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and primary and general election days. All dates are subject to change, according to the city.
The April 22 observance falls in the middle of an active transition for the local fleet. In August 2025, the Pasadena City Council authorized a $32 million contract with New Flyer of America Inc. to purchase 17 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. Those buses are expected to enter service in spring 2027 and will bring the zero-emission share of Pasadena’s transit fleet to 46 percent. The city’s longer-term targets, under a Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan the council approved in January 2023, call for the Dial-A-Ride fleet to go fully zero-emission by 2030 and Pasadena Transit’s fixed-route fleet by 2037 — ahead of California’s statewide 2040 mandate.
Mayor Victor Gordo, who proclaimed April 2026 “Earth Month” in Pasadena on March 30, appeared at the city’s April 18 Earth Day celebration at Brookside Park, which featured the release of more than 800 goats into the Arroyo Seco as part of a wildfire fuel-reduction program.
“Pasadena is committed to leading with proactive, community-centered solutions that protect both people and place,” Gordo said at that event. “This initiative reflects how we can turn that shared appreciation into action, implementing innovative, nature-based strategies that strengthen our city’s resilience.”
Wednesday’s free-transit offer extends well beyond Pasadena.
LA Metro is running free on all buses and trains from 3 a.m. April 22 through 3 a.m. April 23; Metro Bike Share rides are free with code 042226, and Metro Micro is free with code EARTHDAY26, according to LA Metro. Metrolink is running fare-free on all lines, including Arrow service, systemwide.
LADOT’s DASH, Commuter Express, Cityride, and LAnow services are also free, as are all Orange County Transit Authority regular bus routes, according to those agencies.
To plan a trip on Pasadena Transit on Wednesday, riders can visit PasadenaTransit.net, use Google Maps with the transit option selected, or use the Transit app. Live bus arrival times are available via the Transit app or by calling (626) 791-7200. Dial-A-Ride members can reach the reservation line at the same number; the information and applications line is (626) 744-4094.
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