PTS Ride Home Express Service Ticket Sales Begin Today

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 4, 2012) – UK Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) will begin selling tickets for the Thanksgiving and Winter Break editions of its Ride Home Express bus service today. The PTS Ride Home Express is an express bus service traveling to hometowns and break destinations during the major academic breaks. The service provides an economical and efficient alternative as compared to other means of travel.

The PTS Ride Home Express is starting its third year of operation this fall. For the 2012-13 edition of the Ride Home Express, PTS will operate three routes, with a total of 15 stops. The final destinations include the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; and Cleveland, OH. For individual route maps, visit http://www.uky.edu/pts/buses-and-shuttles_ride-home-express.

The program offers significantly cheaper fares than airlines, and faster travel times than other major bus companies. Ride Home Express is open to both students and employees.

According to Director of Parking and Transportation Services Lance Broeking, the PTS Ride Home Express is part of a package of alternative transportation options available to the campus community. “The Ride Home Express provides a travel alternative that eliminates the need for families to make repeated trips to and from Lexington. The service is also beneficial for students with vehicles on campus, as it allows them to avoid driving during peak holiday travel times or putting wear and tear on their car or truck.”

UK students are able to register and pay for their trip via the web by logging on to the Parking Account Manager with their Link Blue ID. BCTC students are also able to pay for trip registration online using their KCTCS login. Ride Home Express registration will be available as an option under the "Purchase Permits" section once logged in. Riders utilizing the online option must pay using an American Express, Discover Card, MasterCard or Visa. All other riders must register and pay for their seats in person at the main PTS office, located in Parking Structure #6, at the corner of Press and Virginia Avenues. One-way fares may be purchased in person only.

Tickets will not be issued. All passengers will be added to a manifest and will need to bring a photo ID to board the bus. Round-trip fares for the PTS Ride Home Express range from $55-$155 for round-trip rates; one-way fares begin at $30. A complete price list can be found here: http://www.uky.edu/pts/buses-and-shuttles_ride-home-express.

PTS recommends registering for the trip as soon as possible. Space is limited, and seats will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. The deadline for purchase for Thanksgiving is Friday, Nov. 2; the deadline for Winter Break is Wednesday, Nov. 28.

The motor coaches used for PTS Ride Home Express offer many amenities, including restrooms and reclining seats.

For more information on the Ride Home Express, including a list of fares, visit the Ride Home Express page or the Ride Home Express Frequently Asked Questions.