SRTA makes its bus service totally free for a month. Here's how to take a ride.

SRTA is inviting everyone to avoid high gas prices, leave their cars at home and hop aboard a bus this holiday season — their bus service is free for over a month.

Thanks to a grant included in the state budget and awarded by MassDOT, all SRTA bus and paratransit services will be free to all from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31 as part of its “Try Transit” program.

The program is designed to entice new customers who normally drive to try commuting, shopping, doing errands and getting around the city via bus — and give a financial break to people who already rely on public transportation.

“Eliminating barriers has helped grow service in the past and this holiday season will hopefully help ease the burdens of residents in our communities,” said SRTA Administrator Erik Rousseau in a press release.  “This is a great opportunity for those new to transit to give us a try.”

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In Greater Fall River, regular routes extend as far north as the Amazon Fulfillment Center and the Stop & Shop Distribution Center in Freetown in the north, to South Coast Marketplace in the South End. The No. 14 bus takes riders as far west as the Swansea Walmart, with stops at Stop & Shop and the Target plaza on the way. The intercity route travels between Fall River and New Bedford, stopping at the Dartmouth Mall and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

SRTA bus routes also serve places like Saint Anne’s and Charlton Memorial hospitals, the Fall River Shopping Center, Seabra, Price-Rite, Shaw’s, Walmart on Quequechan Street, Gold Medal Bakery, Catholic Memorial Home and Bristol Community College.

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In Greater New Bedford, routes extend as far north as Vibra Hospital and New Bedford Business Park, the Southworth Library in Dartmouth and SMAST in New Bedford to the south. The No. 11 bus heads east into Fairhaven, stopping at shopping centers and Southcoast Health, and west to UMass Dartmouth, Hawthorn Medical Associates in Dartmouth, the Dartmouth Mall and on to Fall River.

Within New Bedford, SRTA buses serve Trucchi's, Market Basket, Price-Rite, Fieldstone Marketplace, and St. Luke's Hospital.

Full route maps and schedules are available at SRTAbus.com. The free SRTA Bustracker app is also available for iPhone and Android OS, which has real-time tracking and information on routes and nearby stops.

Normally, SRTA bus fares are $1.50 full price for one ride, or $3 for a daily pass.

For more information, call SRTA at 508-999-5211 or email info@srtabus.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: SRTA bus service gets grant to offer free rides for holiday season