SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica announced that starting Wednesday, July 1, the Big Blue Bus will implement fare changes to its Mobility on Demand Every Day (MODE) program.
The fare change marks the second phase in a three-part fare adjustment plan approved by Santa Monica City Council in June 2019. The adjustment is intended to ensure MODE’s long-term operational sustainability and support the program’s growth.
Starting July 1, 2026
Regular
$1.50 (Current Fare)
$2.00 (New Fare)
Low-Income
$0.75 (Current Fare)
$1.00 (New Fare)
Since 2018, Big Blue Bus partnered with Lyft to offer discounted on-demand rides for Santa Monica seniors (age 65 or older) and adults (age 18 or older) with disabilities, using both sedan and wheelchair accessible vehicles. In February, due to an increase in members and demand, the program expanded its service hours and reinstated Sunday service, following service reductions that began during the Coronavirus pandemic. MODE operates seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
MODE currently serves more than 2,500 active MODE members taking over 41,000 trips annually to medical appointments, grocery stores, shopping centers, and social outings.
“MODE provides an invaluable service to Santa Monica’s aging and mobility-challenged residents,” said Director of Transportation, Anuj Gupta. “We are thrilled to see the continued growth in MODE memberships and the increasing demand for rides, which reflects the program’s critical role in helping residents stay connected to the places they need to go. This modest fare adjustment will help strengthen and expand the program so we can continue providing affordable, accessible, and convenient transportation for our community now and into the future.”
To learn more about MODE, including eligibility requirements, low-income fare options, and how to apply, visit bigbluebus.com/MODE.
By Danny Jones