Safe Ride shutdown will continue through January

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Safe Ride will not run again until at least January due to a ruling on masks by the Federal Transportation Administration.

The Transportation Security Administration’s current order was scheduled to expire Sept. 13. An agency spokesman said Tuesday the mandate will be extended until Jan. 18.

Officials in charge of the Hays public transportation program, which provides free rides between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. in the city limits, chose to close the service when the mask mandate was implemented last year.

The service is often used by bar patrons, and officials were concerned conflict might arise between bus drivers and intoxicated riders over the mask requirement.

Ed Howell, Fort Hays State University director of police, who is part of the community coalition that sponsors Safe Ride, said although the service is used as a sober ride home for some, it is also used by others who need rides during the evening to Walmart or other locations.

In the last 16 years, Safe Ride has provided 240,000 rides.

Howell said in the absence of Safe Ride, he encourages FHSU students to use other safe means to get home if they have been drinking, including Uber, Lift and the local taxi services.

Hays daytime public transportation service, Access, continues to operate. Riders will continue to be required to wear masks.

Rides cost $2 one way in town and $4 one way for out of town. The service operates between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. You must schedule an appointment for pickup at 785-628-1052.