Thanks to a new pilot program between Cal State University San Bernardino and the local transit agency, CSUSB students can now commute to campus for free.

Starting this fall semester students can swipe their current valid student ID card to ride for free on Omnitrans buses throughout the 2011-2012 school year. CSUSB students can use their Coyote One-Card student ID card to ride Omnitrans at anytime on any route, not just trips to and from campus.

The one-year pilot program is being funded by participating colleges and the 16 city and county governments that Omnitrans serves. When cards are inserted in the fare box near the front door of the bus, their magnetic strip will be read by the Omnitrans system. This will allow the agency to capture usage data by school, by route and even individual ID.

Omnitrans will seek student support for fees through referendums next spring to maintain the program after the one-year pilot program expires. College students would normally have to pay $1.50 per trip or $4 for a one-day pass to ride the bus. Seven-day passes are $11 and student 31-day passes are $35.