Seeking to improve the quality of life and independence of both homeless and recently housed Veterans, staff from Dole VA and United Way of the Plains conceived the idea of allowing Veterans to ride Wichita city buses for free. Working with leaders at Wichita Transit, the Veterans Ride Free program was launched in July 2020.
While health and mental health care are front and center at VA, a whole health model is employed. That means success comes from being able to get to work, access food and laundry facilities, attend church, community events or engage in other activities that promote overall well-being.
Use has grown
Thousands of Veterans have taken advantage of the program. Utilization has grown from 40,337 rides taken on city buses in 2021 to 59,972 rides in 2023, an increase over two years of 48.7%.
Veterans have reported a range of accomplishments resulting directly from the program that support the whole health concept: Being able to secure employment, reducing or eliminating food insecurity in the home, and reconnecting with family and friends being a few examples.
Given the program’s success and supported by funding from both VA and United Way, the Wichita City Council has reauthorized the program to run through July 2026.
Topics in this story
More Stories
Office of Advanced Manufacturing's 3D-printed shoulder model transformed a Veteran's surgery, leading to improved quality of life.
Preventing and eliminating Veteran homelessness is a top priority for VA. Wilmington VA is doing its part to help.
Veterans, staff and community members were at Battle Creek VA Oct. 15 to celebrate the hospitals’ 100th anniversary.
how can we get this in my city?
How can we get this program in Pittsburgh PA
This is nice! There is a program for free bus rides for the past 3 years supported by a private grant funded by Kaiser Permanente Hospital (HMO) in Fresno, California free ride on any Fresno Area Bus (or Fresno Area Express Bus in a city of 1/2 million people for any military service veteran, active duty, reserves, National Guard, and anybody, 65 years+, and disabled people. However, Fresno and Clovis Community College students (even part-time taking 1 unit in person (and online class) and California State University, Fresno ride buses free which is funded by their respective colleges too!) However, I live in the city of Clovis, California right next to Fresno with about 127,000 people everybody rides free regardless who you are too which is funded by their city!!! If for some reason a person has to pay bus fare anywhere in Fresno and areas that passes through Clovis, CA (all military of all types and veterans ride buses free too (same as the above first few sentences at beginning of this discussion). If for some reason a person has to pay, then it is only $1.00 and includes transfer to other buses with an additional fare too!
It would be wonderful if California implemented this! More so where I live is in Galt, California; a small city within Sacramento County lines. Please forward these statistics to our crappy governor and also Sacramento regional transit! Thank you!
GREAT IDEA!
Veterans should ride for free on all public transport throughout the entire United States of America
COULD WE GET AIR FLIGHT TICKETS REDUCED, SINCE I DO HAVE A SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY, BUT ONLY ABOUT 15%. BUT I FLY TO VISIT MY KIDS AND A REDUCTION WOULD HELP. I AM A WW II EX MARINE, LATE IN THE PERIOD, I WENT FROM 1945, ON, AND IN CHINA, GOT A LUNG DISEASE THERE.