Cascades East Transit marks 10 years with free Transit Tuesdays

Cascades East Transit celebrates 10 years of providing safe and reliable transit service in Central Oregon by offering customers free bus rides on Tuesday, October 2 and Tuesday, October 9 on Bend fixed-routes and Community Connector routes (Dial-A-Ride service not included). CET’s Free Transit Tuesday promotion also aligns with the Oregon Drive Less Challenge that takes place October 1- 15 and offers an opportunity for CET to express its deep appreciation for customers and motivate first-time riders to try out transit. Michelle Rhoads, COIC/CET Transportation Manager, noted the significance of CET’s 10-year anniversary, saying, “As we reflect on the progress of transit in Central Oregon over the last 10 years, we are excited to continue to meet the needs of our growing community through the innovation and enhancement of transit services.” CET will host interactive tabling events at Hawthorne Station in Bend (334 NE Hawthorne Ave) on October 2 from 7:30 am – 10 am and at the new Redmond Transit Hub (777 SW Kalama Ave) on October 9 from 2 pm – 4:30 pm to celebrate its 10-year anniversary and thank riders for using the bus. Commute Options will partner with CET during these events to encourage bus riders to log their trips as part of the Oregon Drive Less Challenge that runs October 1-15. Kim Curley from Commute Options mentioned, “We love T ransit Tuesday, especially during the Oregon Drive Less Challenge, to remind remind employees to ride the bus. Bus trips count towards winning great prizes and we are excited to promote the sixth annual Oregon Drive Less Challenge throughout Central Oregon.” Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council was designated a Council of Governments in 1972 under ORS 190. COIC provides service to the counties of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson as well as to the cities of Bend, Culver, La Pine, Madras, Metolius, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters, and Warm Springs. Cascades East Transit, operated by COIC, runs a fixed-route service in Bend, community connector shuttles, general public Dial-A-Ride services in Redmond, La Pine, Prineville, Sisters, and Madras, flex-route service in Warm Springs, as well as recreational routes like Ride the River, Ride Bend, and the Mt. Bachelor shuttle.