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Youth Wave Card

All riders 19 years of age or younger are eligible for discounted fares. Children under 3 feet and 6 inches ride free. 

Image of a Youth Wave Card

Purchase a Youth Wave Card:

  1. Visit our Information Center at Rapid Central Station(view hours), show proof of age (19-years of age or younger). 
  2. Pay a one-time fee of $3 for your Youth Wave card.
  3. Load funds onto your Wave card online or at any of our 60+ retail locations. Find one near you at wave.ridetherapid.org.
  4. Tap your card on the Wave card reader and ride!


Benefits of the Youth Wave Card:

Wave - Better Service

Better service
Youths are eligible for discounted fares. Student IDs are not necessary to qualify—everyone 19-years of age or younger is eligible for a Youth Wave card.

Wave - balance protection

Balance protection
If you register a Youth Wave card online, you can easily block a lost card and transfer your balance to a new one. You may also fund and manage multiple cards for anyone in your family, all from one account. 

Wave - Retail Network

Retail Network
The Rapid’s new retail network offers 60+ locations where you can reload funds on your Youth Wave card. You can also add funds online and at Rapid Central Station. Find a location near you here.

Wave - Savings

The more you ride, the more you save!
Receive savings on daily and monthly passes without the commitment of the upfront cost. Wave cards use fare-capping, a pay-as-you-go fare feature. Once you hit your spending maximum, you will receive unlimited subsequent rides. (See chart below for savings)

Understanding Fare Capping

1 RideDailyMonthly
Youth Wave card$1.25$2.50$33.75
Adult Wave card $1.75$3.50$47.00

Fare capping resets automatically on the first day of every month.


Youth Wave card printable resources:

Youth Wave Card Info - English (/var/www/apps/app-18118/docroot/files/assets/files/1649262295_Youth-Wave-Card---Outreach-Flyer-Updated-22022-1.pdf - File does not exist!, PDF)

Questions? Need assistance? 

Email  or call (616) 776-1100.