School buses & Student One Metro New York (OMNY) cards

New York City Public Schools distributes Student One Metro New York (OMNY) cards exclusively through schools. They provide four free rides each day with permitted transfers, at any time, including weekends and summer. The card is personal and must not be shared. Yellow-bus eligibility is separate from an actual route assignment.

General home-to-school walking-distance rules:

• Under 0.5 mile: not eligible under the general rule.
• Kindergarten–grade 2, at least 0.5 mile: bus or Student OMNY.
• Grades 3–6, 0.5 to under 1 mile: Student OMNY only; at least 1 mile: bus or Student OMNY.
• Grades 7–12, at least 0.5 mile: Student OMNY only.

Bus service also depends on district or borough rules, available routes and stops. Housing, medical and safety exceptions may apply. Specialized curb-to-school transportation requires a recommendation in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Accommodation Plan, or an approved medical exception; having a plan alone is not enough.

Contact the school's transportation coordinator for a Student OMNY card or bus assignment. For specialized transportation, contact the school's IEP or 504 team. Card information: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/transportation/student-omny-cards