Cascades East Transit hosts Try Transit Week event at new Central Library
BEND, Ore (KTVZ) - Cascades East Transit (CET), in partnership with the City of Bend Transportation & Mobility Department and Commute Options, will host a special Try Transit Week pop-up event at the new Central Library. The event on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., aims to educate community members on safe and convenient ways to use sustainable transportation.
This event is part of CET's regional “Try Transit Week” celebration, which takes place from June 1–5, 2026, across Central Oregon. The week encourages residents to explore public transportation through various initiatives, including free commute-hour rides, pop-up events and community challenges. The Bend event will highlight options for walking, biking, rolling and riding transit to local destinations.
The event will be held at the new Central Library, located at 61956 SE Santorini St., Bend, Ore. Attendees can expect a variety of activities, including free ice cream, balloons, games and other family-friendly fun. Cascades East Transit will offer rider education, unveil a new bus stop and provide tours of its new “Library Rocks” wrapped bus. Information will also be available on combining biking and transit trips, along with updates on future bike and transit connections like the Crosstown Bike Routes. Commute Options will provide details on its “Safe Routes to School” and “Get There Rewards” programs and attendees will have opportunities to explore car-free commuting during Try Transit Week.
Andrea Wasilew, Outreach & Engagement Administrator for Cascades East Transit, highlights the event's purpose. “The new Central Library is a perfect destination to demonstrate how transit can connect people to important community spaces,” Wasilew says. “We're excited to partner with the City of Bend and Commute Options to help residents experience easy, affordable and sustainable ways to get around Bend.”
The City of Bend Transportation and Mobility team will also be present to share updates on future bike and transit connections. City staff will offer resources and support to help riders combine bike and bus trips, aiming to increase mobility and allow them to travel farther.
Derek Hofbauer, Mobility Programs Manager for the City of Bend, encourages participation. “This event is a great opportunity to demonstrate how people can safely walk, bike, roll and ride the bus to the new library,” Hofbauer says. “We encourage community members to hop on the bus during Try Transit Week to get to and from their destinations.”
Cascades East Transit is Central Oregon's regional public transit provider. The agency offers fixed and flex-route buses, city connector routes, recreational shuttles, Dial-A-Ride and paratransit services across Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties, as well as the Warm Springs community.
For more information on Try Transit Week and available transportation options, residents can visit www.cascadeseasttransit.com.
