Learn, Experience, Ride.
Those three simple steps may bring new ridership to Metro. With the tri*Metro campaign, Cincinnati YP organizations and Metro hope to introduce Cincinnati young professionals to the many benefits of riding the bus.
Tri*Metro is a collaborative effort that consists of a “How To” video, an evening entertainment bus that circulates to venues across Cincinnati on Sept. 13, and a 30-day challenge to travel car-free in October.
The campaign was created through a partnership among Metro, Cincy YPs and Give Back Cincinnati. Metro’s Ridership Development Manager Kim Lahman and volunteers worked closely to develop a program that introduces Metro to young professionals on their terms.
“We want to show how easy it can be to integrate Metro into people’s lives,” said Lahman. “I give credit to the young professionals who are working hard to encourage their peers to try public transportation.”
The 7-minute video was created to demonstrate bus riding logistics, like how to read a schedule and how to plan a trip using Metro. It also shows an example of a group of friends meeting up thanks to Metro.
The campaign also includes transportation to a fun evening of food and entertainment on Sept. 13, between 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. For only $5, riders can purchase a “tri*Metro” pass and take unlimited rides on a route to various establishments in the Cincinnati area. Passes are available online or during the event at designated bus stops. Regular Metro fare of $1.75 per ride will also be an option for riders.
The campaign finale is a 30-day challenge starting Oct. 1. For the first 50 young professionals who commit to giving up their car, Metro is providing a free 30-day rolling pass. They are encouraged to use Metro as well as walking, biking, using Uber, Lyft or cabs and car-sharing. Lahman hopes the month of using transit will create riders for life. With participants posting their experiences on social media, she hopes even more individuals will decide to try Metro.
