CINCINNATI – With an uptick in holiday gatherings right around the corner, Metro will offer free rides this weekend in Cincinnati and Hamilton County to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
What You Need To Know
- The weekend promotion aims to increase access to vaccine locations
- There’s an expected uptick in local COVID-19 cases during the holiday season, per health officials
- Officials said 90% of COVID patients in hospitals are unvaccinated
- Metro said a secondary goal is supporting local small businesses
Passenger service on all Metro routes will be free from Friday, Dec. 17 through Sunday, Dec. 19. Access — a Metro-operated public transportation service for people with disabilities — will be free as well.
Metro CEO Daryl Haley said the initiative aims to help people get out and support small businesses. But the primary goal is to remove transportation as a barrier to accessing vaccinations at their location of choice.
“As we enter the holiday season, it is crucial we take every precaution possible against the spread of COVID-19,” he said. “We are pleased to continue offering these fare-free weekends to assist the community in accessing their vaccination appointments. The chance to take advantage of our enhanced service and support local businesses with your holiday shopping is an added bonus.”
During a media briefing Wednesday morning, Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman said there are about 8,000 active cases of COVID-19 in the county. That “upward trend” includes an average of 455 new cases per day.
Those numbers are being blamed on several factors, including colder temperatures driving people indoors and people getting together for the holidays.
Commissioner Denise Driehaus said it’s understandable that people want to get together and celebrate the holidays, so receiving a vaccine is one way to do that safely. She said there’s been a recent uptick in the number of people getting their first dose.
Right now, 73% of eligible Hamilton County residents are vaccinated, Kesterman said. The regional goal is 80%.
Dr. Richard Lofgren, president and CEO of UC Health, reminded residents that the pandemic remains “very active and pushing our capacity” at local hospitals. “It’s really important that people do what we know will keep them safe and keep our communities safe,” he added.
Kesterman said there are numerous clinics and pharmacies “close to home” offering the vaccine across the county. Those locations are available on the Health Collaborative’s website.
This is the second fare-free weekend Metro has held this holiday season. The first took place the weekend following Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 28.
Metro’s vice president of external affairs, Brandy Jones, said it’s typical to see ridership numbers take a “slight dip” in November and December. She attributed that to people taking vacation time this time of year.
Jones hopes the promotion encourages riders to take advantage of new services and improvements Metro added over the past year. In May, the transit agency launched the Reinventing Metro plan, a series of route modifications and hour changes that aims to enhance service in Hamilton County.
“Riders can take advantage of the free ride days to not only get their vaccination to protect themselves and their families during the holiday season, but to also do any last-minute shopping they may have before the holiday,” she said.
Metro used relief funds distributed by the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Rides for Community Immunity program to offset at least some of its losses in passenger revenue.
All Metro routes will operate on Sunday/holiday schedules on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Metro’s administrative offices and Downtown Sales Office will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 31, per the transit agency.
