Ohio University, GoBus and Athens Public Transit (APT) will all team up to celebrate Ohio Loves Transit Day, a statewide initiative that celebrates transit in Ohio on Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day.

This is the second year that OHIO and the Athens community will participate in the event.

Transit services will be offered at discounted or event free rates on this day and information on available and future services will be shared.

• Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to stop by the first floor of Baker University Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to meet with representatives from OHIO Transportation and Parking Services, Athens Public Transit and GoBus. Information on local and regional transit resources, routes and connections will be available, and visitors are encouraged to write notes of thanks to their favorite transit drivers.
• Visitors and community members will be able to ride APT for free courtesy of the City of Athens. “This is in partnership with a lot of other providers across the state that will also offer free fare days.” said Athens County Mobility Management Coordinator Jessie Schmitzer.
• Faculty, staff, and students are already able to utilize APT for free through the Bobcat Pass program and are encouraged to fill the buses and utilize transit on this day. Just show your OHIO ID.
• Additionally, GoBus will offer $2 off all tickets between Feb. 5-15 with the code GBLUV19.

While Ohio Loves Transit Day is only being celebrated on Feb. 14 in Athens, it is part of a much larger event all across the state of Ohio.

“Ohio Loves Transit activities are just the tip of the iceberg in a well-coordinated effort among local and regional transportation providers to advocate for more resources to support the dire state of Ohio's public transit systems,” said GoBus Manager Mathew Roberts. “Transit authorities are the first to step up in times of crisis, such as offering free rides for federal government employees during the recent shutdown. Public transit is a necessary and valuable public service.”

“Our team is very excited about the opportunity to participate and help to actively promote alternative transportation campus and community wide,” said Ohio University Transportation and Parking Services Director Tia Hysell. “I encourage faculty, staff, and students to support Ohio Loves Transit activities by filling our shuttles and stopping to engage with our team and other transit partners at Baker. Prizes will be given away randomly throughout the day to lucky campus transit riders.”