Riding The CAT bus around town may seem like a spooky experience for people who have never tried it. On October 30 and 31, the staff and drivers for The CAT hope to spark curiosity and encourage people to “Catch the CAT” by offering free rides those two days in celebration of Halloween.
This is the second year that the free ride promotion is being offered to encourage new riders on The CAT. A new tool for riders this year is the website, www.thecatbus.com. There are step by step directions on how to ride, downloadable maps with the CAT routes, and locations where printed maps can be found.
In the hallway where the buses stop on the east side of the Kirkwood Mall, a CAT staff member will be available to explain the process to get on and off the bus, read the maps, map out routes, and will also answer questions about The CAT. Staff will be available from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on Friday October 30 and from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Saturday October 31.
If interested riders have questions, would like ideas on routes to take, or would like help mapping out a specific route before the free ride days, the staff at The CAT can provide assistance. To have a route mapped out, riders can send their starting point and destination (along with desired destination time) to The CAT bus staff through the “contact us” link on the top of the website homepage, www.thecatbus.com, or they can email the request to mistys.bisman@midconetwork.com. Information can also be provided by calling 323-9CAT (9228).
“If people are curious about what it’s like to ride public transportation, this is the perfect opportunity for potential new riders to try it out,” said Misty Staiger, The CAT marketing director. “They are in for a treat once they learn there are no tricks to get around Bismarck-Mandan using The CAT bus.”