Riding Wichita Transit for Less: Half-Fare IDs, Free Veteran Rides and Paratransit
A regular Wichita Transit ride costs $1.75, but plenty of riders pay less or nothing. Anyone 65 or older, anyone with a Medicare card and people with a verified disability can get a Half-Fare ID and ride for 85 cents. Veterans ride every fixed route free. Here's how each discount works, what paperwork it takes, and how to get on the city's ADA paratransit vans.
AT A GLANCE
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What a ride costs in Wichita
Wichita Transit's Fares and Passes page lists these cash prices for one boarding:
Rider | Cash fare per boarding |
|---|---|
Adult | $1.75 |
Half-Fare ID holder | $0.85 |
Youth 6 to 18 (with proper ID) | $1.50 |
Child 5 and younger | Free |
Paratransit van trip | $3.50 |
Three rules affect what you'll actually spend:
No transfers. The page says plainly that transfers aren't accepted and each boarding requires a cash fare or a pass. If your trip needs two buses, paying cash means paying twice.
Exact change, no pennies. Fareboxes don't hand out change cards. Overpay and the extra is gone. Pennies aren't accepted at all.
One fare covers one trip end to end. When the bus reaches the end of the line and starts back, you need a new fare.
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Unlimited-ride passes
Pass | Price | Who can buy it |
|---|---|---|
Day pass | $5.00 | Anyone |
Half-Fare day pass | $2.50 | Half-Fare program members only |
Weekly pass | $25.00 | Anyone |
Monthly pass | $55.00 | Anyone |
Student monthly pass | $20.00 | Wichita elementary, middle and high school students |
Student semester pass | $40.00 | Same students, valid the whole semester |
Student year pass | $70.00 | Same students, valid September 1 to May 31 |
Most passes start on your first swipe, when the farebox stamps the expiration date and time on the back. Day passes work a little differently depending on where you buy them. A day pass bought on the bus is valid only on the day of purchase, while one bought at The Hub, a Dillons store or the City Hall Express Lane is good on the day you first use it.
Wichita Transit's page doesn't list a half-fare weekly or monthly pass. The only half-price pass is the $2.50 day pass.
Our example: A Half-Fare member who boards four buses on a doctor-and-pharmacy day would pay 4 × $0.85 = $3.40 in cash. The $2.50 Half-Fare day pass saves $0.90 that day. An adult who boards twice each workday for 22 days would spend 44 × $1.75 = $77 in cash, so the $55 monthly pass saves $22. (These are our own calculations from the posted prices.)
Where to buy passes
There are no refunds or exchanges on passes, so buy the one that fits your month.
Dillons: every Wichita store except Douglas & Hillside. Hours vary by store.
The Hub, 207 S. Sycamore: the ticket booth is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It takes cash, checks, Visa and Mastercard.
Wichita Transit Administration Office, 777 E. Waterman: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It takes cash, checks, credit and debit cards. You can also reach the pass desk at TransitPass@wichita.gov or (316) 352-4810.
City Hall Express Office, 1st floor, 455 N. Main: Monday to Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. It takes cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and money orders.
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The Half-Fare program, step by step
Who qualifies
The Half-Fare Program covers three groups:
People 65 or older.
Medicare card recipients, at any age.
People with a physical or mental disability verified by a licensed physician.
Members ride regular fixed-route buses for half the adult fare and must show the Wichita Transit Half-Fare ID when boarding. The program page is explicit that a Medicare card by itself is not accepted as proof on the bus. You need the transit ID first.
Applying if you're 65+ or have Medicare
Fill out the Half-Fare Program application (English and Spanish versions are linked on the program page). Bring the signed form and your supporting documents to The Hub at 207 S. Sycamore, Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The page lists a driver's license, Kansas photo ID or birth certificate as supporting documents. If you're applying through Medicare, bring your Medicare card as well, since that's the basis for your eligibility.
Applying with a disability (under 65, no Medicare)
This route takes two steps:
You complete and sign Part I of the application.
A licensed medical professional completes and signs Part II and sends the application to Wichita Transit. They can fax it to 316-858-7707 or mail it to The Hub, 207 S. Sycamore, Wichita, KS 67213.
After approval, Wichita Transit staff will call you to set up an appointment at the transit center. At that visit you show your supporting documents (driver's license, Kansas photo ID or birth certificate) and get your card.
Lost cards and misuse
The first card is free.
The first replacement costs $2, and each one after that costs $5.
Report a lost or stolen card right away by calling The Hub at 316-352-4801.
Cards used improperly are confiscated, and the rider loses Half-Fare privileges.
Program questions go to 316-265-7221, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Veterans ride free
Under the Veterans Ride Free Program, veterans can ride any Wichita Transit fixed-route bus at no charge, for any purpose: work, medical visits, shopping, legal appointments or seeing friends. United Way of the Plains and the Robert J. Dole VA Medical and Regional Office Center have paid for the program since 2020.
Show one of these IDs when you board:
A Kansas driver's license or ID card with the red VETERAN indicator. The Kansas Department of Revenue's Division of Vehicles handles that designation.
A Veteran Health Identification Card. Veterans eligible for VA health care can enroll at the Dole VA Medical Center's Eligibility Office, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A Veteran ID Card.
A retired military ID, either blue (retired from active duty) or red (retired from the Reserve or National Guard).
A Wichita Municipal ID with the VETERAN designation. The city issues it, and it's valid for three years.
Free-ride days coming up
Wichita Transit has announced two citywide free-ride days this fall:
Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Rides are free for everyone, but buses run hourly on Saturday schedules, Routes 202 and 202A don't run, and school routes keep their normal schedules.
Remember that buses don't run at all on several holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Student passes and the school-day service
On school days, Wichita Transit runs extra service that picks students up at regular stops in the morning and again after dismissal. Students can also use the regular routes for jobs, activities or schools outside their area at the same price.
Price: $20 a month, $40 a semester or $70 for the September 1 to May 31 school year. A single ride is $1.50 in exact change.
Where to buy: area middle and high schools, or The Hub.
Paperwork: students need a valid school ID with the right sticker, and a parent or guardian must sign a consent form for each pass.
The city also has a "Youth Ride Free Summer Program" page, but it still shows the summer 2024 dates (May 25 to August 31, 2024). Don't count on free summer rides in 2027 until Wichita Transit posts new dates.
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Paratransit: ADA van service
Wichita Transit's paratransit vans serve people whose physical, cognitive or visual disability keeps them from using the regular bus on their own, even though every bus has a lift or ramp. Eligibility can be unconditional, temporary or conditional (limited to certain situations).
Getting certified
Get the application. Download the Paratransit Eligibility Application, pick one up at The Hub or the Administrative Offices, or call (316) 352-4810 to have one mailed.
Send it in to the Mobility Service Clerk at 777 E. Waterman, Wichita, KS 67202. You can also email paratransit@wichita.gov or fax (316) 858-7598.
Do the interview or assessment. Wichita Transit contacts you to schedule an in-person interview, a functional assessment or both.
Watch for the letter. You'll be told your eligibility status by mail.
Riders with permanent disabilities don't face a fixed time limit, though Wichita Transit can update eligibility from time to time. When a certification is due to expire, a recertification application is mailed 60 days ahead. Tell Wichita Transit if your address, phone number or disability changes.
Booking and fares
Paratransit detail | What the city lists |
|---|---|
One trip | $3.50 |
10-ride ticket | $34.00 |
20-ride ticket | $68.00 |
Weekday hours | 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
Saturday hours | 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
Sunday | No service |
Reservations | (316) 352-4828, ideally the day before, up to 7 days ahead |
Extended evening service is available within three-quarters of a mile of fixed routes. Same-day requests may not be possible because of capacity.
Our example: The 10-ride and 20-ride tickets both work out to $3.40 a trip, which is 10 cents less than paying $3.50 each time. Someone who takes 20 trips a month would save $2. That's a small saving, but the ticket also means you don't need exact change.
If you're denied or suspended
You can appeal a denial, or a suspension or other penalty, by writing to Paratransit Services, Wichita Transit, 777 E. Waterman, Wichita, KS 67202. An Appeals Request Form is linked on the paratransit page. For a copy of the appeal process, call 352-4828 (a 316 number). Complaints and comments go to the same address or phone.
You can also file a reasonable modification request. Each one is reviewed case by case.
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Westside Feeder: on-demand rides with a half fare
In west Wichita, the Westside Feeder picks riders up where buses don't run, or where using the bus would be hard. It runs Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. across two zones.
Feeder trip | Base fare | With monthly pass | Half-Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
To a bus route | $1.00 | Free | $0.50 |
Within one zone, no bus | $2.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
Zone to zone, no bus | $3.00 | $2.00 | $1.50 |
Book by 11 a.m. the day before, up to 7 days ahead, at 316-352-4828. Cancel at least an hour before pickup, or it counts as a no-show. Four no-shows bring a 30-day suspension, and drivers wait only five minutes after they arrive.
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Where the city's pages don't line up
Transit center address. The current pages use The Hub at 207 S. Sycamore. The old Youth Ride Free Summer page sends riders to a "downtown Wichita Transit Center" at 214 S. Topeka. That page dates from 2024, so go to 207 S. Sycamore.
Half fare isn't exactly half. The adult fare is $1.75 but the Half-Fare price is $0.85, which is slightly less than half. This guide uses the posted figure.
Forms we couldn't open. The Half-Fare and paratransit PDFs (applications, rider's guide, FAQ) wouldn't load for us, so this guide doesn't describe the questions on those forms.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
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More help in Wichita and Kansas
Official sources
Last checked: October 30, 2026. Fares, pass prices, Half-Fare rules, veteran IDs, paratransit and feeder details come from Wichita Transit's pages on wichita.gov (wichitatransit.org redirects there).
This is general information. Wichita Transit sets fares and decides eligibility, and either can change. Call (316) 265-7221 to confirm before you rely on any figure here.
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