Image: KSFY screenshot
The kickoff is from 11 AM – 1 PM at EmBe downtown Sioux Falls today (Saturday).
(I also noticed that KSFY used a photo of the kids with the mayor in the story. A reminder that this is the 2nd or 3rd resolution that the mayor has refused to sign, which delayed the FREE ridership by one week. He deserves ZERO credit for this program being implemented. ZERO!)
I got word this morning from a city official that SAM is already giving out FREE bus passes to youth (so they can avoid refunds after the 26th). The system will work identical to the dog tag youth had to buy in the past, and no city ordinances will have to change in reference to riding with a parent or being disciplined (revoking your pass) for unruly behavior. Seems this has gone smoother then we thought (except for the week delay due to our pouting mayor). I would like to thank the city council for making this service available and DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE!
Go get your passes today and explore our great city!
However, he did not VETO the resolution, so that means it will go in affect a week later on June 26. There could be some complications though. The administration still has to come up with a plan on how to administer it, so they could make it very convoluted so it is hard to use. The council has suggested making it very simple.
-You put an age limit on it that you can ride by yourself
-A parent or guardian must sign a waiver to get the dog tag making them aware you have the pass
-You get a dog tag that is similar to what the Augie students use
-When you get on the bus with the special tag, the bus driver simply presses a button saying you are part of the youth ridership program.
Someone asked me if they don’t have the tag or lost it if they could still get the ride. A friend suggested to me that maybe they could use a password to the driver to get the free ride, something like รขโฌหMy Man Mike’ ๐
Hopefully the transit administration will be cooperative and not turn it into a big hassle to get the passes.
Somebody mentioned to me the other day that perhaps this was looked at as a handout to the kids. I don’t look at it that way at all, besides the economic impact factor, adult parents as well as kids pay sales taxes on everything they purchase in our city, so while they may not be paying for the ride up front, they are still contributing to the tax base that funds the transit system. It’s no different than using our bike trails for free as far as I am concerned.
UPDATE: Joe Sneve with the Argus Leader weighs in with some priceless comments from Huether;
Huether said withholding his signature came down to the manner in which it was passed.
” I do believe the resolution has some merit. It was the process, the rush and the lack of prudent due diligence that I could not defend nor support,” he said.
This coming from the guy that has ram-rodded every project he was for, like the indoor aquatic center that has to be built with cash because no bonding company will give a bond for a building being built on land with a quit claim deed. Let’s talk ‘Due Dilligence’.
Offering rides free of charge to a select group, Turbak added, wouldn’t help convince potential riders that public transit is worth the cost of bus fare.
“People don’t place a value on what they don’t have to pay for,” Turbak said last week.
Yeah Tracy, everyone in Sioux Falls HATES our free parks and bike trail ๐
“The city and Sioux Area Metro are now diligently working to determine the safety and liability risks, expense and operational concerns, customer service and value considerations, the policy, the process and so much more,” Huether said. “We will scramble and get it done. However, businesses, nonprofits and families are not successful with a fire, aim, ready approach and government is absolutely no different.”
Hypocrisy in the HIGHEST order. Everything Huether has accomplished was through that very approach.
l3wis 
