All aboard: New free downtown Dayton shuttle gets rolling today

The free Flyer shuttle. Service begins this morning. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

The free Flyer shuttle. Service begins this morning. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

Free downtown bus service starts this morning, which could significantly change how people get around and experience the urban center.

Free Flyer shuttles will make it a cinch to travel between Brown Street and the Central Business District. The service is expected to be popular among downtown visitors, workers and residents because they can quickly get to entertainment, shopping and dining destinations and job centers without having to worry about parking or moving their vehicles.

The idea of bringing a free circulator bus to the center city has been discussed for years.

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But the signs for the shuttle are already up, and the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority service kicks off today at 10 a.m. at Courthouse Square on North Main Street.

Free shuttles have proven effective in other cities at aiding tourism and supporting economic development along the routes.

The Flyer buses will arrive at stops every 10 minutes or less. They will travel in a continuous loop that goes from Brown Street near the University of Dayton to Monument Avenue at the northern end of the Central Business District.

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