Ride for free: Cascades East Transit’s Try Transit Week kicks off June 1st
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Cascades East Transit (CET) is inviting the community to explore public transportation during "Try Transit Week," occurring June 1st–5th across Central Oregon. The initiative offers free rides on Bend fixed routes and Redmond Flex Routes A and B during commute hours to encourage new riders and highlight public transit benefits.
Throughout the week, riders can utilize free rides on eligible routes from 6:00–8:00 a.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m. CET will also host community challenges, encouraging transit use to local destinations such as restaurants, events, and the Downtown Bend Farmers Market.
Try Transit Week highlights how public transportation can help reduce traffic, lower transportation costs, create greater independence for teens and individuals who do not drive, and support a more connected and sustainable Central Oregon community.
Pop-up events are scheduled at Hawthorne Station, the Redmond Transit Hub, onboard buses, COCC Bend Campus, and the new Central Library in Bend. These events, some in collaboration with the City of Bend, will feature free ice cream, balloons, games, rider selfie challenges for CET trucker hats, raffle prizes for monthly and annual bus passes, and special transit pass promotions.
The week kicks off on June 1st with Bend events from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Hawthorne Station and onboard Routes 1–3. A Ride + Dine event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bend Pizza Kitchen in Northwest Crossing, supporting the Community Movement Fund. A pop-up and lunch field trip are scheduled at COCC Bend Campus from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
June 2nd will feature pop-ups in Redmond and Bend. The Redmond Transit Hub will host an event from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Onboard Bend Bus Routes 7–9 will have events from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. A "Try Transit Week Celebration!" community gathering with a CET presentation is planned for 4:30 p.m. at Dogwood at The Pine Shed.
On June 3rd, "Bus to Farmers Market Challenge" events will occur from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Brooks Alley in Downtown Bend. A pop-up event is slated for the new Central Library from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with another pop-up at Hawthorne Station from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
June 4th is designated as Redmond Community Day with a pop-up at the Redmond Transit Hub from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Onboard Redmond Flex Routes A and B will host events from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., alongside a community gathering in Bend.
The final day, June 5th, includes a pop-up event at Hawthorne Station from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Onboard Bend Bus Routes 1, 4 and 11 will have events from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Promotions during Try Transit Week include a "Buy One, Get One Free" monthly pass and an annual pass sale with a $125 reduced fare or $250 regular fare. New CET Go accounts can also receive a free day of rides. These promotions are only available in-person at a pop-up event, at Hawthorne Station, or by calling customer service at (541) 385-8680.
Raffle winners will be announced at Hawthorne Station at 2:00 p.m. on June 5th. For more information regarding Try Transit Week, community members can visit the Cascades East Transit Try Transit Week Page.
