2022 NEBRASKA PUBLIC TRANSIT WEEK EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

photo of Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signing the 2022 Nebraska Public Transit Week proclamation

photo of Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts holding the 2022 Nebraska Public Transit Week proclamation

Governor Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation declaring April 17-23 as Nebraska Public Transit Week. Show your support for a service that helps thousands of Nebraskans stay mobile and access critical services like education, employment, and medical care.

Pledge to Ride Transit

Thank you to the 49 passengers who filled out the pledge form to show your support for public transportation in Nebraska.

Trivia Game

Below is the final leaderboard of those that played the trivia game this week.

screenshot of the 2022 Nebraska Public Transit Week trivia leaderboard

2022 Nebraska Public Transit Week Highlights

Summary:

Nebraska Public Transit Week celebrates public transit throughout the state. The week helps transit providers engage with their community through traditional media, social media, public events, and word of mouth.

Goals:

Have 125 individuals sign the Pledge to Ride Transit.
Increase the number of participating agencies (need 43 to increase from last year's 42).
8 agencies to participate in the Facebook Photo Contest.
400 engaged users on Facebook during Nebraska Public Transit Week.

During NPTW (April 17-23):

49 individuals signed the Pledge to Ride Transit.
47 agencies participated throughout the state.
7 agencies participated in the Facebook Photo Contest.
242 engaged users on Facebook during Nebraska Public Transit Week.

Purpose:

The eighth annual Nebraska Public Transit Week sought to increase transit agency participation in promotional celebrations of their work and importance to Nebraska. Nebraska Public Transit Week provided a week-long event for all Nebraska transit agencies to reach out to their community and educate them about their services, organize celebrations of transit and the community, and give back to their employees and passengers. The planning committee’s efforts to promote Nebraska Public Transit Week focused on 5311 funded agencies, or rural transit providers.

Participation:

Agencies hosted a variety of events during Nebraska Public Transit Week including:

Free Ride Coupons
Drawings and Raffles
Coloring Contests
Passenger Appreciation Days
Photo Contests
Free Ride Days
Employee Recognition
Spot the Bus
Radio Station Promotions
Advertisements or Articles in Local Newspapers
Crazy Hat Day
Scavenger Hunt for Staff
Veterans Ride Free Day
Selfie Day
Motivational Monday
Wellness Wednesday
8th Year of NPTW - 8th person to ride gets a free punch card
Stuff the Bus
Poker Run

Agency Events and Activities

Click on a header to view each agency's events and/or activities.

ALLIANCE PUBLIC TRANSIT
- All of April: Tickets are BOGO 50% off. 12 riders/ticket, each ticket values at $10, 2 tickets for $15.
- Monday-Friday: Poker Run — Each day riders will receive a card. On Friday the rider with the best hand will win a gift basket.
- All Week: Goody bags handed out to each passenger.
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Each passenger will receive a free ride ticket (1 per rider each day).
- Tuesday: Driver Recognition Day — Lunch provided for drivers.
- Thursday and Friday: Passengers may provide a nonperishable food donation in exchange for their ride (items will be donated to the Senior Center).
CITY OF CHADRON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Monday
- Stuff the Bus: Canned food products will be collected for Chadron local pantries on the bus that will be at the parking lot east of First National Bank.
- Save Gas, Hitch a Ride on the bus.
- Kids Coloring Contest: First 100 entries receive a token from one of the following: Subway, Pizza Hut, Runza, Maverick, or Arby’s.
Tuesday
- Healthy snacks for transportation staff.
- Take a picture of the bus in town and text to 308-432-0520 to have it added to Facebook and website.
- Take a selfie while you ride and text to 308-432-0520 to have it added to Facebook and website.
Wednesday
- Passengers receive a free cookie.
- Show our drivers "Big Love" - please tell them how amazing they are!
- Lunch for transportation staff.
Thursday
- Test your knowledge — try a crossword puzzle or word find.
- Giveaways for passengers.
Friday
- Driver Appreciation Day: We honor and celebrate our drivers for their smiles and service.
- Coloring Contest winners announced.
- Funny Hat Day: Wear your funniest/creative hat while you ride and text a photo to 308-432-0520 to have it added to Facebook and website.
CITY OF NELIGH DIAL-A-RIDE PUBLIC TRANSIT
- Monday: Customer Appreciation — We thank our passengers for their patronage with gifts of gratitude.
- Tuesday: WHEEL of a Day — Come take a spin on us and pick up your “WHEEL” with a ride on Dial-A-Ride today.
- Wednesday: Game Day — Join in the fun with a crossword, word find, BINGO, or all of the games.
- Thursday: Test your transit trivia by playing online with a friend or individually. See the city Facebook page for a link.
- Friday: Driver Appreciation Day — We honor and celebrate our drivers for their smiles and service.
CITY OF TECUMSEH/JOHNSON COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSIT
- April 17-22 — Start posting pics for Furry Friend Friday on the City of Tecumseh/Johnson County Public Transit Facebook page under the Furry Friend Friday post (will be at the top of the page). Post pictures all week. One entry per person, everyone is invited to participate.
- Monday: Motivational Monday — Everyone that rides will get a Motivational Quote and a little something to make your Monday better.
- Tuesday: Celebrating our 8th year of Nebraska Public Transit Week. The 8th person to ride the bus gets a FREE 10-punch ticket.
- Wednesday: Wellness Wednesday — Passengers and random people that pass by the bus will receive a healthy snack.
- Thursday: Celebrating our 8th year of Nebraska Public Transit Week. The 8th person to ride the bus gets a FREE 10-punch ticket.
- Friday: Furry Friend Friday — Drawing at noon for gift card to Los Primos Mexican Grill in Tecumseh. This is a random drawing – no matter how cute your furry friend is.
- All Week: Passenger Appreciation — Passengers will receive free items.
CRAWFORD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- All Week: Each time you ride your name goes in the pot for a free $10 boarding pass. Coloring contest for kids - winner gets a free ice cream cone.
- Monday: Veterans ride for free.
- Tuesday: Wear a crazy hat and ride for free.
- Wednesday: Spot the bus and take a picture. Post it on your Facebook page and tag Crawford Public Transportation for a chance to win a prize.
- Thursday: Donate a food item for a free ride.
- Friday: Drawing for the coloring contest (free ice cream cone) and ticket contest ($10 boarding pass) winners. Customer appreciation day. Driver appreciation day.
GARDEN COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- Monday: Driver Appreciation Day – Let’s all show our drivers big love - please tell them how amazing they are!
- Tuesday: Customers Selfies – Take a selfie while you ride and text the photo to our main number. We will post it on our Garden County Public Transportation Facebook page and share the love.
- Wednesday: Caption the Pictures – Let us see how creative you are. Tell us your captions and we’ll put them on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. Keep it clean.
- Thursday: Passenger Fun – Test your knowledge and try our games – there’s a crossword, word find, and a BINGO challenge.
- Friday: Stuff the Bus – The bus will be parked at the Superette collecting donations of food, clothing, and household items for the VOA in Lewellen and the VOA Closet in Oshkosh.
MIDLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT
- Monday: Customer Appreciation Day — Give out special goodies and kids coloring contest (winner announced Friday).
- Tuesday: Dump the Pump — Ride for free today.
- Wednesday: Funny Hat Day — Any passenger that wears a funny hat will get a free ride.
- Thursday: Spot the Bus — Take a picture of one of the buses in town and post on our Facebook page to win.
- Friday: Employee Appreciation Day — Kids coloring contest winner announced.
NORTH FORK AREA TRANSIT
- Monday: Random Acts of Transit – Any passenger wearing purple will get a special prize from the driver. Fill out a thank you note available on the bus and give it to your driver. Passengers will be treated with something yummy. Take time to say “Hi” to your fellow passengers.
- Tuesday: Facebook Bus Bingo – When you spot a purple bus comment the bus number on the North Fork Area Transit Facebook post. The winning number drawn at the end of the day will win a gift package (up to 20 winners).
- Wednesday: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – 10-11 A.M. Bus convoy loop around Norfolk.
- Thursday: Stop of the Hour – Any passengers getting on or off at a specific stop will get a goodie bag.
- Friday: “Grab A Fork” – Community Lunch and Driver Thank You from 11:30 A.M.-1 P.M. Hot dog lunch for general public and drivers at the North Fork Area Transit facility at 222 N. 4th Street, Norfolk.
- Saturday: Photo Contest – Take your photo next to any bus stop in town and tag @northforktransit on Facebook. A winning photo will be selected on Monday, April 25 to win a gift pack.
- All Month: Free rides the entire month of April.
NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM
- Monday: Hippy Day
- Tuesday: Pajama Day
- Wednesday: Crazy Hat Day
- Thursday: Nebraska Day
- Friday: USA Day (red, white, and blue)
OMAHA METRO
- All Week: Passenger Appreciation — Randomly selected, system-wide free fare periods.
- All Week: Passenger Appreciation — Giveaways at transit centers:
- Monday 8-10 A.M. — North Omaha Transit Center
- Wednesday 8-10 A.M. — Westroads Transit Center
- Thursday 12-2 P.M. — Metropolitan Community College South Transit Center
- Friday 1-3 P.M. — Aksarben Transit Center
- Tuesday 12-1 P.M.: Bike + Ride Training — Metro Office Parking Lot
- Training for riders wanting to learn how to use the front bike racks on Metro buses
- Saturday 11 A.M.-5 P.M.: Earth Day Omaha — Elmwood Park
- Staff will be out at Earth Day Omaha with Heartland Bike Share to talk about sustainable transportation in Omaha. This will include sharing information about the introduction of electric bikes and electric buses, Metro’s newest fare payment services, and some transit prize giveaways.
- Through Thursday: Share your comments on Metro’s draft MetroNEXT plan
- MetroNEXT is Metro’s yearlong strategic planning initiative to improve transit in the Omaha region. This plan addresses ways to guide transit investments and priorities to 2030.
- Want to thank a staff member? Print out this thank you card for your driver.
- Don’t forget to check out Metro’s Transit Activity Kit for kids.
SALINE COUNTY AREA TRANSIT
- Monday: Healthy food snacks will be provided to passengers.
- Tuesday: Healthy food snacks will be provided to passengers.
- Wednesday: Drivers will receive gift bags with drink bottles, blanket, gloves, etc., and passengers will receive bottled water.
- Thursday: Passengers will receive bottled water.
- Friday: All passengers ride free.
SAUNDERS COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- Monday: Public Awareness Day – Information regarding our services will be distributed to various places in the county to continue to bring awareness of our services to the public.
- Tuesday: Half Price Rides (Trip to Lincoln) – All passengers will pay half the regular fare amount.
- Wednesday: Staff Appreciation Day.
- Thursday: Half Price Rides (Trip to Fremont) – All riders will pay half the regular fare amount.
- Friday: Passenger Appreciation/Free Rides (Wahoo Only) – All passengers will ride for free.
SCHUYLER PUBLIC TRANSIT
- Monday: The 8th person to ride the bus gets an $8 Gift Pass.
- Tuesday: Buddy Day — Bring a friend along and get two rides for the price of one.
- Wednesday: Appreciation Day — Drivers and riders get a FREE Cookie.
- Thursday: New passengers get their ride for half price.
- Friday: Gift Day — Receive a gift when you ride.
TRI VALLEY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- Driver Appreciation Day — Donuts for staff.
- Passenger Appreciation Day — Free rides.
- Backpack Day — Local school students will color pictures to hang at Tri-Valley Health System.
- Scavenger Hunt at hospital for all staff.
- All Week: Veterans ride free and passengers receive a free hot/cold pack.
TRI-CITY ROADRUNNER
- Monday: Passenger Appreciation — Giveaways available for passengers.
- Tuesday: Buddy Day — Two riders for the price of one, or pay one way for a round trip if alone.
- Wednesday: Veterans Appreciation — Veterans ride free (DD-214, Active/Veteran/VA ID, Driver’s License/ID with “Veteran” designation required).
- Thursday: Driver Appreciation Day
- Friday: Selfie Day — Passengers are encouraged to take selfies of themselves on our buses or with the driver.
- All Week: Signup for drawings.
YORK COUNTY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
- All Week: Passenger Appreciation — Passengers will receive free items. New passengers will receive a free ride (up to $4 in value). Veterans ride free (DD-214, Active/Veteran/VA ID, Driver’s License/ID with “Veteran” designation required).
- Friday: Appreciation Day — Drivers and riders get a FREE Cookie.