GRTC bans unaccompanied minors on buses during COVID-19

The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) will no longer allow unaccompanied minors to ride GRTC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solo minors in work uniforms or with their employee badges are permitted to ride GRTC to/from work. Until further notice, customers are not allowed to remain on-board a single bus beyond their one-way trip. No extended rides on a single vehicle will be allowed.

With the closure of schools and recent pleasant Spring weather, GRTC says it is experiencing an increase in riders - especially minors - riding GRTC in groups and for nonessential trips, counter to local, state and federal guidance to limit travel only for essential purposes.

“Immediately after suspending fares, our ridership jumped by several thousand trips a day. Some were kids out of school with energy to burn and some were people wanting to enjoy the beautiful Spring weather,” said GRTC CEO Julie Timm. “But some were budget-conscious people looking for employment, making trips to the grocery store or going to the doctor. While overall daily ridership is still well below normal levels, we need to take additional measures for those who desperately need our service during this crisis.”

In addition to limited trips and restricted rides for minors and groups, passengers are asked to sit one passenger per row, except for families riding together. Passengers in violation of these temporary policies or otherwise disruptive to service are subject to removal from the bus, says GRTC.

“While it's completely counter to our normal lives to beg people not to ride, that is exactly what we are doing,” Timm said. “Serving the community’s very real and very essential mobility needs during this crisis is a juggling act. Please, save our service for those who need our service!”