Free Downtown Shuttle Service with BLink Microtransit to Begin on Monday, June 2nd

Beginning on Monday, June 2, Bloomington Transit will operate a free downtown shuttle as a part of its existing BLink Microtransit service. The shuttle will provide free, curb-to-curb rides to and from anywhere within the designated downtown travel zone: Rogers St to Indiana Ave (east to west) and 10th St to 1st St (north to south). There are no minimum or maximum distance requirements, as long as the point of origin and the destination are both within the zone.

The free downtown shuttle will be in operation Monday–Friday, with the hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Operating days and hours were selected to serve peak lunch and dinner times in the downtown and Kirkwood Ave business areas.

Rides can be ordered on demand or scheduled up to 24 hours in advance. For priority booking and travel, Bloomington Transit suggests that users make reservations on the “BloomingtonLink” mobile app (Apple Store or Google Play) or on their preferred web browser at Book.BLink.RideCo.com.

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If there are no booked rides in the queue, the Bloomington Transit driver will follow a designated travel pattern within the zone that features the 4th St and Walnut St parking garages. During this time, pedestrians may safely flag down the vehicle at an intersection, hop in and tell the driver their desired destination.

“We’re trying to do something a little innovative this summer just to see how it plays out so we can plan for the future,” general manager John Connell said this week on The 812 Show. “If you’re going to ride a block or two – great, ride a block or two. We encourage people: If they see it, take advantage of it.”

The BLink free downtown shuttle was created at the request of Bloomington officials and business leaders who were concerned about the increased difficulty of transportation and parking brought about by the seasonal closure of Kirkwood Ave.

“We’re very excited to roll this out after many different people and groups have been asking for a [downtown shuttle] service,” planning and special projects manager Shelley Strimaitis added.

Details of the program may change as Bloomington Transit evaluates ridership patterns and preferences.

Bloomington Transit is operated by the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation (BPTC) in Bloomington, Indiana. The transit system consists of fixed-route buses operating seven days a week and a paratransit system focused on transportation for those who are not able to ride the fixed-route system. Bloomington Transit provides vital transportation for Indiana University students and connects the community to destinations throughout the City of Bloomington.