SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Starting this week, anyone can ride the Sioux Area Metro buses for free each Friday.

Patrick Jones uses the SAM bus often to get around town. This morning he welcomed a special surprise.

“Oh, it was free! I read about it on social media beforehand, but I wasn’t sure that it started, but it did,” Jones said.

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SAM’s general manager, Torin Kalberg, says part of the reason for free ride Friday is to get more people using its services.

“It’ll be all fixed routes on the city metro. The free ride Fridays is our way to reintroduce people or introduce them for the first time to the bus system. Any of our nine routes which go all across the city. It’s free to ride every single Friday from June 6 to August 29,” Kalberg said.

Kalberg says SAM’s fixed routes can take riders to a variety of popular locations in the city.

“Really, everything north of 229 and then south of basically the airport. The black route goes to the airport, so if you have one of those Friday flights, you need to head out of town for the weekend, you can get a free ride from downtown to the airport,” Kalberg said.

Those unable to ride the larger buses also have an opportunity to hop on.

“We’re also offering free rides for all paratransit riders at Metro. So we offer a paratransit zone for everybody that can’t maybe ride the fixed route buses easily,” Kalberg said.

Riders can also download the SAM Transit app on their smartphone.