Sometimes You Just Need a Ride: Why MetroNow! Could Make Getting Around Cincinnati So Much Easier
That’s why I was excited to hear that Metro is expanding its MetroNow! on-demand service into Bond Hill, Roselawn and surrounding communities. Beginning August 30, 2026, the new Bond Hill/Roselawn Zone will serve portions of Bond Hill, Roselawn, St. Bernard, Wyoming, Lockland, Norwood, Arlington Heights, Carthage, North Avondale and Elmwood Place.
And I immediately thought: Oh, this could definitely help my family. One of the first things that came to mind was going from my mom’s house to Kenwood and surrounding areas. There are plenty of times when I’m at my mom’s and need to make a quick trip somewhere. Maybe I have an appointment, need to grab something, or simply need to get across town. Instead of automatically thinking, “Who can drive me?” having an on-demand transportation option gives me another possibility.
What happens when my mom needs to get somewhere? Or when one of our cars is in the shop for maintenance? Or my sister-in-law needs to get to my mom’s house and my brother isn’t able to drive her? Those are real-life situations that happen all the time.
We tend to think about transportation as simply getting from Point A to Point B, but having access to reliable transportation can affect so much more: getting groceries, making it to appointments, getting to work, visiting family or simply being able to handle your day without having to depend on someone else.
MetroNow! has already provided more than 350,000 rides since launching in 2023, and grocery stores are among the most popular destinations for riders. I actually love that because it shows that this service isn’t just about commuting. It’s about everyday life. MetroNow! uses shuttle-style vehicles and allows riders to request trips through the MetroNow! app or by phone. The idea is to provide flexible, on-demand transportation within the designated zone while also connecting riders with Metro’s traditional fixed-route network.
The new Bond Hill/Roselawn Zone will connect riders with 12 Metro fixed routes, providing access to destinations throughout Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Across all MetroNow! zones, riders can connect with 23 Metro routes, which is nearly half of Metro’s fixed-route network. This is a pretty big milestone for Cincinnati because the Bond Hill/Roselawn expansion marks the first MetroNow! zone within Cincinnati city limits.
The new zone is also the fifth MetroNow! service area, joining existing zones in Springdale/Sharonville, Northgate/Mt. Healthy, Forest Park/Pleasant Run and Montgomery/Blue Ash. Metro celebrated the new expansion with a community event on August 26 at the Community Action Agency, bringing together community leaders and local officials to recognize the importance of improving transportation access throughout Hamilton County. For me, though, the biggest takeaway is simple: sometimes you just need a ride.
You don’t necessarily need to own another car. You don’t necessarily need to ask your sister, brother, friend or child to come pick you up. Sometimes you just need a convenient way to get where you’re going. As someone who is constantly on the go, I appreciate having options. And as someone who has family members who also need to get around, I appreciate knowing there may be another option available when our schedules, or our cars ,don’t cooperate.
So yes, I’ll still be driving my car. But the next time I’m at my mom’s house and need to get toward Kenwood or somewhere nearby, or my mom needs a quick ride, or one of our cars is sitting at the mechanic, MetroNow! will definitely be something I consider. Because sometimes convenience isn’t about having everything figured out. Sometimes it’s simply knowing there’s a way to get there.
For more information about MetroNow!, including service hours, fares, service areas and how to ride, visit go-metro.com/metronow.
