São Caetano do Sul reinstates bus fare for non‑residents

From 15 July 2024, São Caetano do Sul resumed charging a R$5 fare on municipal buses for passengers who do not reside in the city. The fee does not apply to residents who have completed registration in the municipal “Tarifa Zero” program; those with approved applications continue to ride for free, and must present an approval e‑mail and photo ID to the driver until 25 July. By mid‑July, 60,327 people had registered, with 52,459 approvals and more than 21,000 free‑fare cards already issued.

The city ended the universal free‑fare model, introduced in October 2023, after ridership jumped from about 20,000 to 80,000 daily trips – a 300 % increase that strained the fleet and led to overcrowding and service quality declines. Municipal officials said the program was under‑funded and could not sustain free rides for all users. Exemptions for seniors, students and cancer patients under state and federal law remain unchanged.