Sunday, April 6, 2025

Free Metro Event Will Connect Older Adults with Transit Resources and Independence

“Go Metro” event will empower seniors with transit knowledge and skills

In a region where personal vehicles have long dominated transportation, Metro’s signature event for seniors offers Los Angeles County’s older residents alternatives for maintaining mobility and independence.

The free event, themed “Go Metro: Your Ticket to the World,” will take place at the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. An estimated 500 older adults are expected to attend the expo, which aims to reduce barriers to public transit use among seniors.

The event highlights how Metro can connect users to “exciting destinations, cultural experiences, and everyday essentials—all while saving money and reducing stress!”

“The program’s mission is to remove barriers and enhance mobility among the older adult population,” states official Metro documentation about the On the Move Riders Program that organizes the event.

The expo will feature expert panels, workshops, live demonstrations, and a resource fair. Attendees will learn about Metro’s reduced fares, accessibility features, trip-planning tools, and how to use TAP cards and Metro apps. The event will include comprehensive education on obtaining and using Senior Reduced Fare TAP cards, trip planning, and safety for riding buses and trains.

Last year’s event attracted approximately 700 seniors and included welcome remarks from Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins and a keynote address from actor and transit advocate Beth Broderick. The event is designed for older adults, caregivers, transit advocates, and anyone interested in learning how to navigate Metro with ease.

Metro’s senior support network includes 54 “Travel Buddies,” trained volunteers who organize 32 peer-to-peer travel clubs throughout the region. These volunteers show older adults how to obtain and use Senior Reduced Fare TAP cards, plan trips, understand maps and signage, and navigate the Metro system and other local transit.

Seniors aged 62 and older qualify for significant discounts on Metro, including 35-cent off-peak fares compared to the standard $1.75 fare and $20 monthly passes for unlimited travel. Disabled and Medicare customers are also eligible for these reduced rates.

For more information about the expo or to register for this free event, interested individuals can visit metro.net/onthemove or register through Eventbrite at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/9th-annual-older-adult-transportation-expo-tickets-1219765765239.