SunTran is partnering with the Florida Department of Transportation to celebrate the eighth annual Mobility Week to encourage residents in Ocala/Marion County to make safe, multimodal transportation choices.
During Mobility Week, which runs from Friday, October 27 to Saturday, November 4, partners across the state will host events to promote transportation options, highlight achievements, and roll out new initiatives and policies.
Since the inaugural Mobility Week in 2016, FDOT has partnered with more than 400 organizations, participated in over 800 events, provided over 400,000 free transit rides, collectively rode 600,000 miles by bike, and distributed over 300,000 safety items such as helmets and bicycle lights.
According to the City of Ocala, Mobility Week supports the collective mission of the city, Marion County, Ocala Marion Transportation Planning Organization, and Suntran to provide safe, comfortable, and accessible transit services as a viable means of mobility to the citizens and visitors of Ocala/Marion County.
During the week-long celebration, Marion County and the City of Ocala will host the following events:
- On Wednesday, November 1, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., FDOT and the City of Ocala will provide bike helmet fittings, along with free helmet giveaways and bike lights, to promote bicycle safety.
- On Thursday, November 2, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Downtown Transfer Station (501 NE 1st Avenue in Ocala), safety items will be handed out to riders.
- On “Try Transit Thursdays,” which will take place on November 2, SunTran fares will be waived for all travelers.
- On Friday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., a “walk and talk” tour will be held at the Ocala Downtown Square. According to the city, this tour is a unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of different street users (motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, seniors, children, visually impaired individuals, and those with mobility devices). The city adds that there will be “facilitated conversations and shared experiences, empathy and understanding” while “conveying essential safety messages.”
“Since 2016, Mobility Week has helped spread awareness of more innovative, safe, and efficient transportation systems in the state of Florida,” stated FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “This initiative has had a significant impact on our communities, revolutionizing how we move and helping shape the future of transportation. It’s about people from all around the state coming together to promote a safer and more sustainable transportation network for Florida’s residents and visitors.”
For more information on bus routes and fares, or to view the live bus tracker and more, visit SunTran’s website.
To learn more about Mobility Week, visit the Florida Department of Transportation’s website.