The Riverside Transit Agency’s (RTA) Student Transit Education Program (STEP), entitled ‘RoadTrip’, is an engaging, interactive program that instructs students (grades sixth through twelfth) on the basics of the RTA bus system in Western Riverside County. The hour-long program, comprised of a 3-dimensional video and PowerPoint presentation, emphasizes the benefits of public transportation and teaches students how to plan a trip on the bus system using the RTA Ride Guide and System Map. Students break off into teams and complete a series of challenges, allowing them to learn firsthand about RTA services available to them in their respective communities. The presentation can be tailored to meet students’ needs, competency and skill level.

RTA has long had a Student Transit Education Program (STEP) in place. For years, Marketing Staff has gone in to the classroom and lectured about RTA services, the benefits of public transportation and how to plan a trip using the Ride Guide and System Map. This year, the Agency wanted to create a more hip, fashionable presentation that would create ‘buzz’ amongst students in grades 6 – 12. We wanted to limit the amount of stand-up talking and place emphasis on a presentation that incorporated games, music, activity and collaboration with peers. In years past, we found that students became bored with standard PowerPoint slides and information overload. As a result, we seemed to lose their attention rather quickly. The renovated STEP Program incorporates a short 3-D video and flash photography, in which students must wear special-colored glasses in order to view it.