Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) announced on Thursday morning that all TCAT bus routes will provide free rides to all riders this Friday and Saturday, “due to predictions of dangerously cold temperatures” in the Ithaca area.

“No one should be exposed to these temperatures and this is just one way that TCAT can pitch in to protect our community from the deadly elements,” said TCAT general manager Scot Vanderpool. “We don’t want to hear a single story of anyone suffering out there due to lack of funds to ride a warm bus.”

TCAT operations manager Mike Smith encourages passengers with Cornell staff ID cards and day-based Tcard passes, whose rides are already paid for, to use their cards both days to help with data collection.

Due to the frigid temperatures, Smith says buses won’t be able to use the “kneeling” function, which is dependent on air lines that could freeze. Drivers will be able to manually lower ramps upon request, “which may cause slight delays.”

“We ask passengers for their patience, dress warmly and to be at their bus stops on time,” Smith said in a statement. “If you need to go out, be extra safe.”

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