Vicksburg residents will be able to ride NRoute’s buses for free Thursday during the transportation system’s observance of Mississippi Community Transportation Awareness Day.

The program is sponsored by the Mississippi Public Transit Association, and being held in connection with “National Dump the Pump Day,” which is held annually to encourage people to park their cars and use public transportation.

“This is the first year that NRoute and the Mississippi Public Transit Association are participating in the program,” said Machelle Kyles, regional mobility manager for NRoute. “Mayor (George) Flaggs is going to get on a bus at 9 a.m. at City Hall and ride.”

Besides the free rides, NRoute will host a picnic lunch at the South Street hub at the South Street parking area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kyles said. The menu will be hot dogs, baked beans and soda.

For more information on the event, people can call Kyles at 601-218-7674, or NRoute at 601-636-1053.

NRoute was formed as a city department in 2006, and became an independent operation in October 2007. It is run by a five-member board.

According to its website, the system operates three routes: King/Casino which serves the Kings community and the city’s four casinos; River Region/Vicksburg Mall, which serves River Region Medical Center, the Vicksburg Mall, Hinds Community College, the Outlets at Vicksburg and Walmart and Kroger.

The third route, Clay Street-North/South, serves the Warren County Health Department, the Warren County Courthouse, Good Shepherd Community Center and Manor Drive.

The transportation system’s fares include $2 for the general public, 75 cents for senior citizens 60 and older and 50 cents for children 3-12. Children under 2 ride free.

The system also offers all day passes for $4, weekly passes for $15 and monthly passes for $35. Bus transfers are 25 cents.