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The voters have spoken and Teresa Roush of Wilmington, and Travis Theiss of Hamilton, have won Metro’s “Tell Your Story” Contest. Both will receive a year of free rides on Metro and will be featured in Metro’s advertising this fall. In August hundreds of votes were cast for the five written stories and five videos posted on Metro’s website.

In Roush’s written story for the contest she describes her commute on the Rt. 71X from Kings Island to downtown and back, five days a week. She uses her time wisely to knit afghans – or “bus blankets.” In the 14 months she has knitted during her commute, she has completed seven blankets which she donated to a children’s charity in Clinton County.

“Metro has not only improved my quality of life because I do not have to deal with the traffic on I-71, but it has also helped to bring a smile to the children who have received the bus blankets,” Roush wrote.

Written Story A
I live in Wilmington and work in Cincinnati. I ride the 71X from Kings Island to downtown and back 5 days a week. Commuting is so much easier on the bus. I don’t have to worry about traffic jams, closed roads, detours, or parking. To pass the time on the bus ride, I began knitting afghans. I call them “bus blankets.” In the 14 months I have been knitting during my commute, I have completed 7 blankets which I have donated to a children’s charity in Clinton County. Metro has not only improved my quality of life because I do not have to deal with the traffic on I71, but it has also helped to bring a smile to the children who have received the bus blankets.
Teresa Roush, Wilmington

Theiss used his video, filmed at the Taste of Cincinnati, to humorously describe how he uses Metro as a chance to catch up on sleep. He said Metro provides him with easy access to work and gives him time to take a quick nap on the way to and from work.

“If you see me on the bus, wake me up before I miss my stop,” Theiss said in his video. When he was told he won the contest he said he was surprised. “I just gave it a shot and thought it would hopefully entertain people. I was glad I could share my feelings that Metro is a great option for transportation,” Theiss said.

Video E

Travis Theiss, Hamilton

A third, special award was given to 96-year-old William “Mr. Bill” Kenny on Aug. 21. Mr. Bill’s written story described how he used Metro to get to and from the Over-The-Rhine kitchen where he volunteers five days a week. Mr. Bill also received a year of free rides.

The contest was part of Metro’s “Public Transportation Takes Us There” advocacy campaign, which also included integrated messages in advertising, grass roots marketing and public relations efforts.

Metro is a non-profit, tax-funded public service of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, providing about 19 million rides per year.