Bus or taxi are the only public transit options in the city (if you loosely consider a cab "public transit"), but recently the city began using Uber, a rideshare program that uses a mobile app to connect passengers with the company's drivers-for-hire. It's basically a high-tech way to order yourself a Lincoln Towncar, BMW or any other variety of vehicle to take you from A-to-B at prices competitive to taxis. Since the service is new to Cincinnati, Uber is offering two weeks of free rides to anyone who orders a driver. At the suggestion of a friend, I decided to try it out. The app worked great until it told me there were no Uber cars available, despite seeing three car icons within two blocks of my origin. I tried again a few minutes later; the next available was 20+ minutes away, not accounting for traffic signals, which would cut my arrival at the venue too close. Fortunately, I was able to catch the trusty ol' METRO Bus #1 for Fun, which dropped me off right at the building's entrance.
The challenge would be getting back Downtown. I was in Mount Adams to see a show at Playhouse In The Park. While it is surrounded by three METRO bus stops, transit service isn't available after 8:00pm. That's no good since the theatre lets out around 11:00pm. Route #1 service is extended on Saturday evenings with the last inbound bus departing at 10:52pm. Better, but still useless if you're at a show. Why an area would have three bus stops but no service during the prime business hours was perplexing, but so is everything transit related in Cincinnati. I shrugged and made alternate plans for my return journey Downtown.
As the actors took their final bow, I pulled up the Uber app to request a car. Again, the app showed icons of several cars-for-hire, but when I went to book, none of the UberBlack or UberX cars were available. I tried again as the audience slowly sauntered into the lobby, and again after I spent some time chatting with a friend. I walked out of Playhouse and over to the Route #1 bus stop, where I had been dropped off. One final time, I searched for an Uber car and none were available. What's the point in having a "try it and love it" free two week trial period for taxi alternatives if I can't request a ride in a span of 30 minutes?
Feeling stranded, I located the next closest active bus stop. It was a long walk down to the foot of Mount Adams hill, getting picked up in Walnut Hills on Gilbert Avenue by Route #11. Yep, I had to walk into a different neighborhood to find bus service. Fortunately, I didn't have too long of a wait for the bus, but taking the steep, desolate, dimly lit sidewalks to catch it voids my reason of using public transit for safety.
Efforts are underway to increase transit options in Cincinnati, whether through construction of the streetcar, new METRO bus hubs in Uptown and Western Hills, or new peer-to-peer transport such as Uber or Lyft. Yet, our city still has a far ways to go in creating viable accessible transportation if traveling 1.5 miles poses a challenge.
