If driving anywhere on Thursday night gives you a case of the willies — and it probably should, quite frankly — please remember that rides on Metro buses and trains are free from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. that evening.

I’ll issue another reminder the next couple of days. Plan your trip at metro.net. The full press release is after the jump.Metro to Offer Free Rides New Year’s Eve on all Metro Buses and Metro Rail Lines

Leave the Driving to Metro

To promote a safe holiday season, Metro will offer a special holiday free fare program for all Metro Bus and Metro Rail lines operating on New Year’s Eve.

The free fare program will be in effect between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. the night and early morning hours of Thursday, December 31, and Friday, January 1.

Patrons boarding a Metro Bus, including the Metro Orange Line, or the Metro Red, Purple, Blue, Green or Gold rail lines during the hours designated will receive a free ride to their destination.

Metro is reminding the public that it is an option for people attending holiday parties so they don’t have to drive.  Metro’s fleet of buses, the Metro Orange Line, a dedicated bus transitway in the San Fernando Valley, and Metro Rail lines offer patrons alternatives to driving solo in their vehicles with convenient travel opportunities throughout the region.

The Metro Purple Line operates from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Wilshire/Western and the Metro Red Line from Union Station to North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley via Hollywood.  The Metro Blue Line operates from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles; the Metro Green Line runs between Norwalk and El Segundo, and the Metro Gold Line operates between Pasadena and East Los Angeles.

For complete route and schedule information, patrons can call 1-800-COMMUTE or visit Metro’s website and access the Metro Trip Planner at www.metro.net.