Dubuque College & Grade School Students Get Free Jule Bus Rides

Students attending college in Dubuque can breathe a sigh of relief and put their wallets away. For the second year in a row, The Jule, Dubuque’s public transit system, will offer free rides to local college students during the 2024-25 school year. Gone are the days of bumming rides and paying for gas. Now, students can keep that spare change for more important things—like hotdogs, ramen, or a few extra rolls of toilet paper.

As someone who spent their college days at Wartburg, I can tell you that having free transportation to get around would have been a dream come true. Imagine hopping on a free bus, instead of wasting my own gas for every small trip. I mean, it always seemed I was choosing whether to spend my last few dollars on a pack of instant noodles or the gas to get to Walmart. Free rides back then would have meant more options for filling up that dorm fridge or the evening trip to a local "watering hole" (mine was called The Fainting Goat).

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To take advantage of these free rides, students only need to show a valid school ID for the 2024-25 school year. It’s as simple as that. The program is available to students from Capri College, Clarke University, Emmaus Bible College, Loras College, Northeast Iowa Community College, University of Dubuque, and Wartburg Theological Seminary.

And it’s not just college students who are reaping the benefits. K-12 students can also ride The Jule at no cost, provided they present a valid school ID. For students in grades 6 to 12, this means more freedom to get to school, extracurricular activities, or wherever else you or your parents may need you to go.

With easy access to public transportation, students can now get around Dubuque for shopping, entertainment, dining, recreation, and jobs without the hassle of worrying about fares. Whether it's a quick trip to stock up on ramen or toilet paper—or maybe even some more exciting adventure—students have more freedom to explore their surroundings.

For route schedules, maps, and bus tracking, students can download the MyJule app or visit the website.