Long Beach Transit buses are being cleaned carefully in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. File photo by Thomas R. Cordova.

Long Beach Transit announced today that free rideswill be offered starting at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to all customers.

In addition, LBT will offer late night service on select routes, withsome routes leaving the Transit Gallery on First Street between Long BeachBoulevard and Pine Avenue as late as 2:45 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

“As I said to my team, please don’t drink and drive, but if you dodrink, ride the bus!” said Kenneth A. McDonald, Long Beach Transit’s president and CEO. “Let LBT safely take you into the new year to get you where you want to go.”

LBT, which has been offering free New Year’s Eve rides for many years,provides transportation services in Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill,as well as Artesia, Bellflower, Carson, Cerritos, Compton, Hawaiian Gardens,Los Alamitos, Norwalk, Paramount and Seal Beach.

The complete list of routes and schedules is available on LBT’swebsite www.ridelbt.com/newyear. Customers can also call 562-591-2301 or visit www.ridelbt.com for route planning assistance.