RIPTA IN THE COMMUNITY

Our Biggest Food Drive Ever!

STUFF A BUS FOOD-A-THON DRIVE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER, 19, 2016

In the spirit of holiday giving, help RIPTA, Job Lot and i Heart Radio “Stuff a Bus!” during the 33-Hour Food-A-Thon. Our goal is to stuff RIPTA buses chock full of non-perishable food and canned good items that will be donated the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. This is our biggest food drive ever to help the food bank – please help us give back this holiday season!

At last year’s Stuff a Bus Food Drive, RIPTA collected 1,050 pounds of food and $410 in donations. Every dollar enables the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to acquire 3 pounds of healthy food. So in total, the 2015 food drive resulted in 2,280 pounds of food for Rhode Islanders in need. Thank you to everyone who helped! Let’s beat that number this year!

STUFF A BUS FOOD-A-THON LOCATIONS
Stop by any of these Job Lot locations beginning at 6AM Friday, November 18 through Saturday, November 19 at 3PM:
1173 Tiogue Avenue, Coventry, RI 02816
5957 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852
1493 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919

Baby Boomers Ride the Bus!

In 2013, use of public transportation in the United Stated hit its highest point in 57 years with 10.7 billion trips taken, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Several reasons were given for the peak, not the least of which was Baby Boomers’ return to urban areas and their need for reliable public transportation options. With that in mind, RIPTA was excited to take part in the Life Expo for Boomers and Seniors hosted by the Providence Journal last week at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The theme was healthy living for Baby Boomers, with dozens of vendors on hand to offer information on a myriad of healthy life choices.

RIPTA’s table, staffed by our Commuter Resources team, was busy all day, with people seeking information on bus schedules and special services such as our RIde transportation program for persons with disabilities. “Clearly, a lot of people were looking at using public transportation as an option so they don’t need to rely on their cars as much anymore,” said Barbara Polichetti, Director of Public Affairs for RIPTA. “In keeping with national trends, many people in the so-called ‘Baby Boomer’ generation are moving to urban areas and using public transportation more,” Polichetti said. “We love being at events like the Expo so we can help re-introduce them to riding with us and also find out what they are looking for from their state’s public transit system.”

HACKERS UNITE AT RIPTA HEADQUARTERS

Coders, designers, entrepreneurs, students, activists and other civically engaged individuals gathered around a RIPTA conference room last week to start working with real-time travel data from our buses. Their goal is “Revolutionizing RIPTA” by using the data to create new mobile apps for RIPTA passengers. This initiative is part of a statewide Hack-A-thon hosted by the State of Rhode Island. The real-time data will give coders, programmers and other computer aficionados a chance to build applications that will make it easier for passengers to use RIPTA based on real-time trip updates, service alerts and more.

Click here for details.

RETHINK YOUR RIDE

Commuter Resource RI will be participating in two benefits fairs in November! These benefits fairs give CRRI great opportunities to promote RIPTA services, pass programs, carpooling and alternative mode travel to a high volume of employees, faculty, students, and staff at each festive event.

These all day events are excellent venues for CRRI to persuade individuals to get out of their single occupancy vehicle and to try and alternative mode of travel. One –on –one trip planning, bus scheduling information, and on-line information are some of the things shared with individuals looking to save commuting dollars, expand commute options, or simply just to stop by and say hello.

UPCOMING BENEFIT FAIRS
Blue Cross Blue Shield RI: November 3
Bryant University: November 9

SERVICE ALERTS

RIPTA CELEBRATES VETERANS DAY
RIPTA will operate all regular fixed-route buses and trolleys on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Friday, November 11, 2015 in observance of Veterans Day, an official state holiday. RIPTA offices, including the Photo Identification and Ticket Sales Offices in Kennedy Plaza, will not be staffed on the holiday. In addition, the Flex Service reservation line (1-877-906-FLEX) and the RIde reservation line (461-9760) will not be staffed on Friday.

RIPTA CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING DAY
RIPTA will operate all fixed-route services on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Thursday, November 24, 2016 in observance of Thanksgiving Day, an official state holiday.

Click here for details.

TURKEY TROT – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
RIPTA will detour Routes 1, 71, 72, 75, 78, and R-Line from 9am to 12pm. Roosevelt Avenue will be closed during this time.

Details here.

RIPTA HONORS ROSA PARKS
Thursday, December 1st - the date Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white male passenger - is Rosa Parks Human Rights Day. RIPTA salutes her by showcasing beautiful art e-signage commemorating her courage on buses as a reminder of who she was and what she represents.