By Jessica Coates
jessica.coates@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — For the first time, the Salisbury Transit bus system will offer free rides to everyone on Election Day and to veterans on Veterans Day.

Salisbury transit director Rodney Harrison said that on Election Day, which is Tuesday, bus rides would be free to everyone during operating hours.

“It doesn’t matter where they’re going that day. We wanted to make it as easy possible. Like, ‘Hey, the whole entire day is free. Go vote, go shop,'” Harrison said. “But the main focus is on removing that barrier.”

Harrison said that, for many people, transportation is a barrier that keeps them from getting to the polls and voting on Election Day.

“So we want to do our part in addressing that barrier to make sure our citizens have a mobility option to get to the polls,” Harrison said.

Buses will run from 6 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and Harrison said that many of the city’s bus routes will pass by or stop at polling places.

For a complete list of polling places, visit the Rowan County Board of Elections website, click on the “Voting in Rowan County” tab on the left side of the screen and click the “Precincts and Polling Places” option from the drop-down menu that emerges.

For a map of bus routes and stops, visit the City of Salisbury website, click on the “Government” tab at the top of the page and then click the “Transit” option from the drop-down menu that emerges.

Polls will be open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday — Veterans Day — Harrison said bus rides will be free for active service members and veterans.

Harrison said that to qualify, service members and veterans will either need to be in uniform or provide one of the following: a military ID card, a photo of them in uniform, a VFW membership card or a DD Form 214 discharge document.

Harrison said they want to give active and retired service members lots of options because they “wanted to make it easy.”

“It’s more about the veterans, not about the buses,” Harrison said.

Harrison said people who have questions about either of the free transit days should call the Salisbury Transit office at 704-638-5252.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.