Commuter’s Metro rides just got a lot more literary

There are so many benefits to using public transit. It’s accessible, economical, reduces your carbon footprint, and best of all, it frees up your focus so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the ride to your destination. 

Thanks to a partnership between Cincinnati Metro, opens a new window and the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, riders can put all those savings to good use with free WiFi access to Library materials to enjoy while they ride. 

“We know one of the biggest advantages to riding transit is the ability to reclaim your time. That time you would normally spend commuting, stuck in traffic, or battling aggressive drivers is, instead, yours to do whatever you’d like with,” says Metro Interim CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley. “This partnership is the perfect way to connect our riders with even more ways to make their time on board enjoyable and productive.”

The Ride & Read program allows Metro riders of all ages to spend their commute with a good book, no matter the format. With the Library’s eBranch, opens a new window, riders have access to eBooks, audiobooks, and music right at their fingertips. 

This comes in especially handy when you’re on the bus with your phone or tablet. What better time to dive into something new that will expand your mind, imagination, and world view? 

Each month, the spotlight will shine on a different book selected by the Library. July’s pick is Yaa Gyasi’s PEN/Hemmingway Award Winner Homegoing, opens a new window. The book was one of Oprah’s 10 favorite books of 2016 and was named Debut Novel of the Year by NPR. August will kick off with Stephen King’s latest Elevation, opens a new window, followed by The Immortalists, opens a new window by Chloe Benjamin in September. 

The program has been a hit since it debuted late last summer. “I have met some wonderful people on the bus and developed some long-lasting friendships on the various bus rides,” says Metro rider Patty Stewart. “Plus, I love to read and get a lot of reading done. Now I read the books suggested by the Metro Bus book club.”

“The goal is to highlight the benefits of riding the bus and the chance it offers riders to reclaim their commute by spending that time doing something they enjoy,” says Heather Norris-Garcia, External Affairs Specialist at Cincinnati Metro. “It also encourages riders to visit the many branch libraries along our routes and take advantage of the great resources they offer.”

To download or reserve your copy of the latest Read & Ride selection, set aside exclusively for Metro riders, you can visit go-metro.com/readandride, opens a new window. We can’t wait for you to get engrossed in your next good read. Just don’t miss your stop!