Showing love for The Flyer

Close to a dozen faculty, staff and students boarded The Flyer shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day — to show their love and support for public transportation in the Dayton region and beyond.

 The ride took place as part of the Greater Dayton RTA’s celebration of Ohio Loves Transit Week, Feb. 11-15. The Flyer, which launched in November 2018, offers free rides between campus and downtown Dayton attractions from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturdays. Four buses handle the route between RiverScape MetroPark and Brown/Kiefaber, and no wait is longer than 10 minutes.

During Thursday’s event, the UD contingent met with employees and advocates from RTA, Premier Health, the Downtown Dayton Partnership and other businesses along The Flyer’s route who came along for the ride. All received an Ohio Loves Transit T-shirt and button, including a few riders whose usual commute time coincided with the promotional ride.

 Staff members Miranda Lowe (Office for Mission and Rector), Sherri Alexander (School of Engineering), Ginger Stuck (Office of the President) and Libby Lopresti (School of Engineering) were already making plans for future trips on The Flyer. As the bus traveled down Jefferson, Fifth, Main and First Streets, they noticed restaurants that would be good spots for lunch.

 Knowing they could get there together on The Flyer without having to take a car made a downtown lunch stop even more appealing.

 “I had a great time,” Stuck said. “Looking forward to grabbing Flying Pizza on The Flyer!”