CINCINNATI – Finding a parking space in downtown Cincinnati can be a challenge on Opening Day. Beating the post-game crowds isn’t always a picnic either.
What You Need To Know
- Metro buses will operate fare-free for riders on Opening Day
- This is the third fare-free period used by Metro this year
- The transit agency goes free to market Metro to riders who are on the fence about taking the bus
- During its recent week-long period, Metro saw increases in weekday and weekend ridership
To help with both issues, Metro has made all bus service fare-free on Tuesday, April 12 in celebration of the Cincinnati Reds’ 2022 home opener. Metro’s Access paratransit service is fare-free that day as well.
The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade starts at noon. Opening pitch for the Reds games vs. the Cleveland Guardians game is 4:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park.
Both Government Square and other downtown stops will close for a time because of the parade. Detour information is below.
“Opening Day is a great opportunity to offer free fare to encourage Reds fans to check out our new service improvements and discover just how convenient riding Metro is–rather it’s to get to work, school or the ballpark,” said Brandy Jones, vice president of external affairs for Metro.
Metro has used fare-free weekends two other times in the last few months, including Super Sunday in February when the Cincinnati Bengals took on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. Metro marketed it to ensure residents had “safe transportation to and from watch parties throughout the region.”
Most recently, Metro made buses free to ride from Sunday, March 20, through Saturday, March 26 to help motorists deal with “sticker shock” at the gas pump. Gas prices had just shot up by about $0.60 in the previous two weeks.
Beyond the potential utility value to existing customers, Metro used the week-long period to attract new customers. Metro employees spent the week greeting customers and providing information to riders at Government Square in downtown and the Northside Transit Center.
Staff promoted several service improvements instituted this year, Jones said. That includes work to implement the Reinventing Metro plan.
Metro deemed the program a success. Average weekday ridership was 44,358 during fare-free week, a 26% increase compared to the previous month, per data from the transit agency.
Though less dramatic, weekend ridership during the promotion was up as well. On Saturday, there were 20,709 rides and on Sunday 16,517, both of which exceeded pre-pandemic weekend averages from March 2019.
Overall, the week’s figures represented a 50% increase in ridership over the same time last year.
Weekday express service during the promotion saw an 11% increase over the previous month, while evening and overnight service—both having seen significant expansion as part of the Reinventing Metro plan—increased by 30%.
Jones said Metro saw such a powerful response to its previous promotion that leadership decided to “celebrate Opening Day with another free ride day.”
“We’re convinced that those who take advantage of the free ride day will find it the obvious choice all season long to avoid parking expenses and traffic congestion and to arrive at the game stress free,” she added.
Metro is a nonprofit, tax-funded public service of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. Metro builds free-fare days into its marketing budget.
Detour information for Opening Day
Metro will introduce several temporary service changes on April 12 because of the parade. It affects several routes and downtown stops, including Government Square and other downtown.
Detours starting at 8 a.m.: Rts. 21, 46, 64 and 78.
Detours starting at 11 a.m.: Rts. 1, 4, 6, 11, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24, 27, 28, 32, 33, 43, 46, 49 and Metro*Plus.
Detours will lift soon after the parade concludes. The parade usually lasts around two hours.
Customers can find alternative boarding sites and up-to-date information on Metro’s detour blog. Customers may also sign up for Cincy EZAlerts to receive text and/or email alerts with detour information about their routes.
Learn more about Metro at www.go-metro.com.