Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) now requires Chatham University students to use the Ready2Ride app to access their free public transit fare.
Chatham’s Office of Marketing and Communications sent an email this summer to students regarding the transition to virtual passes. Free bus fare, included in all students’ tuition, was previously accessible by tapping a Chatham ID when boarding a PRT bus.
To ride for free under the new system, students must download the Ready2Ride app, listed as PRT Ready2Ride in the Apple and Google Play stores, and register with their Chatham email address. After opening the app, users are prompted to log in or create a new account. Accounts created with non-Chatham emails are not eligible for free bus fare.
After creating an account, look for an email to verify it. Once verified, students will have full access to the app’s features. On the home screen, find the section labeled “Ticket Wallet” – this is where the pass will appear. Keep in mind that it may take up to 24 hours for the pass to load.
To activate the pass, select Chatham U-Pass from the main menu. When the confirmation screen appears, tap “Activate Ticket” at the bottom. After reviewing the information and tapping “Activate Ticket” again, a barcode will be generated. This barcode is what students will scan on the validator when boarding a PRT bus. They’ll need to repeat this activation process each time they ride. A successful scan will be confirmed by an audible beep.
The shift from student ID passes to virtual ones brings new benefits.
For example, in the “Track Your Vehicle” section, riders can view the estimated arrival time for their bus or light rail train. In this section, you can locate your stop by using the map to find nearby stops, entering your stop number, or selecting your route, direction and stop from the list. Once selected, the app will display the estimated arrival time for your bus.
The app also offers Room2Ride under the “Other Trip Tools” section. This feature helps riders estimate how full a bus usually is at certain stop times. After choosing the route, direction, day of the week (Sunday, Saturday, weekday or all) and start time, the app shows an estimated capacity using a color system: blue means seats are typically available, light orange means standing room only, and dark orange means limited standing room.
A useful section for those new to riding PRT bus and light rail lines is “How To Ride,” which provides step-by-step instructions for traveling by bus, light rail or incline. There’s also a dedicated section on best practices for getting to and from Pittsburgh International Airport – helpful for students heading home during breaks, picking up visitors or navigating the airport.
If students encounter issues accessing their bus and light rail passes in the Ready2Ride app, submit a ticket to Chatham IT Services for account support or general questions. A follow-up email sent after the initial July 31 message informing students of the transition includes a link to submit a ticket, or students can reach Chatham’s IT services by emailing [email protected].
