iRide for Arlington Students

Also see the How to Ride for Students page.

Your ride's here.

Are you a student in Arlington with places to go, people to see, and things to do? Look no further than iRide – your ticket to getting around Arlington on transit. With iRide, you can access ART, Metrobus, and Metrorail, ensuring you always have a reliable ride at your fingertips.

With an iRide SmarTrip card, it’s easy for students to get around Arlington by transit independently and safely.

Who Can Ride?

Any student living in Arlington County who is enrolled in kindergarten to 12^th grade is eligible to obtain a free iRide SmarTrip card.

Where Can I Ride?

Your iRide card is your ticket to riding transit in Arlington County. Students with a registered iRide can ride ART bus and Metrobus* routes for free within Arlington. (*Some exclusions apply. See below.)

• iRide cards will be charged the regular fare like a SmarTrip card for rides on Metrorail and will need money loaded to pay the fare. (See more below.)
• Students riding ART without an iRide SmarTrip card will be charged the $1.00 student fare paid by cash, or the full fare amount with a regular SmarTrip card. 

How do I Get a Card?

There are two ways students can get a free iRide card.

• Visit any Commuter Store location in Arlington
• Arlington Public Schools students can visit their school’s Transportation Coordinator. 
• You will need to complete a Registration Form to enroll into the program.

Free MetroBus Rides for Arlington County Students

Arlington Transit (ART) is delighted to announce a collaboration with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), introducing free MetroBus rides for Arlington County students on selected iRide Card routes, effective January 16, 2024.

This aims to broaden transportation alternatives for any student enrolled in kindergarten to 12th grade who lives in Arlington County and aligns with our ongoing commitment to fostering accessible and economical transit solutions.

The approved iRide Card Eligible Routes for free MetroBus rides are detailed below:

Metrobus Limited Express routes are excluded from the iRide program, and cards will be charged the regular fee for riding. The excluded routes in Arlington are (as of January 2024):

• 17B,G,K,M,; 3F,Y; 8W; 16Y; 21C; 28F 

Quick links

Registration Form
Bring the completed with you to a Commuter Store or give it to your School Transportation Coordinator at your middle or high school.

Student iRide SmarTrip Card FAQs
Frequently-asked questions about the Student iRide SmarTrip Card.

Car-Free Near Me
Plan your trip ahead of time with this map-based tool. See bus stops close to your start and end points, and plan transfers with Metrorail and Capital Bikeshare.

PDF Schedules
Get printable schedules for ART, Metrobus and other local bus routes in Northern Virginia.