Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Things That Make You Go, "Wow!" from Inside Detroit

Have you been to Detroit's new Welcome Center?

Find it at 1253 Woodward for answers to all your metropolitan needs. Jeanette Pierce and Maureen Kearns, who run the center and Inside Detroit, are experts. They'll provide you with any information you're looking for, as well as some you're not. They also organize walking tours and pub crawls to open people's eyes to the culture, history and a worthwhile perspective of the city.

Yes, that's right, pub crawls: turn getting drunk into a learning experience. How cool is that?

Courtesy of Inside Detroit, click here for some "Wow" facts about the city. A sample, quoted from InsideDetroit.org: "There are 125 bars and restaurants within the one square mile of downtown Detroit." Detroit is ripe for the exploring.

Why don't you check it out? Use the Welcome Center as a resource or (gasp!) dare to venture down on your own. Consider going on an Inside Detroit pub crawl or walking tour, especially if you're a Detroit novice.

Detroit has a lot to offer; it's time you took advantage. (And perhaps, nudge nudge, you could hop on the Night Move to do it.)

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Driving is expensive (duh).

Even with gas prices falling again, it's kind of disheartening to see how quickly dollars can accumulate--outside your pocket. And it doesn't even include the cost of parking, or the cost of all the speeding tickets I get (I'm a terrible driver).

What we need is public transportation.

Wait, we have that now!

If you haven't yet used the Night Move to get around, now is the perfect time to start. Book a seat for this weekend at www.thenightmove.com/booking. Then ask the bus driver for a token for a free People Mover ride; AND use your ticket for a discount on a Michigan Green Cab ride, to get you the rest of the way home. The savings here are AMAZING, no?

Friday, October 24, 2008

ACCESS DETROIT is tonight!

Free block party in Detroit tonight! Celebrate the grand opening of the Cadillac Book Hotel and check out this awesome event.

And don't forget to book the free shuttle! Do it on the Night Move website. You know you want to.

For more details on Access Detroit, check out the site here.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Public Transit NOW

I went to a Model D event last night on public transportation in Detroit. One speaker said mass transit is the crucial element to connecting social and commercial centers, and that without such connectivity, we can never expect our city to grow or the community of suburbs and city to fuse.

You've heard talk about the light rail system that's being planned. Did you know the reason they're funding it privately, at least for stage one, to get it built as quickly as possible? Asking for federal funding would push the timeline at least five years. They're trying to do something about our public transit problem now.

The Night Move is a step in that direction. It's something we can use now.

Friday, October 17, 2008

If you're our fan on Facebook...

Hey fans!

Go to http://www.thenightmove.com/booking. Enter coupon code FANS to get 20% off your ride this weekend!

Just our little way of saying thanks for being you.

(If you're not our fan, this is the perfect time to become one.)

AND now you can book on your iPhone or Blackberry! Just show the driver the confirmation screen instead of a printed ticket. How great is that?!

See you there!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Detroit is awesome.

Read this, from Model D, by U of M kid Kimberly Chou: "Maize, Blue and Detroit, Too: U-M Grads Find Promise in City's Future."

The Night Move introduces mobile booking!

Did you know you can now book a ride on The Night Move using your iPhone or Blackberry? Just go to www.thenightmove.com/booking, like you would on your computer, and go through the booking process. Then, to get on the bus, you can show the confirmation screen on your phone to Dupree* instead of a paper ticket.

So if you're out Friday night and decide to hop on The Night Move to get you around between Royal Oak, Ferndale and Detroit, pull out that iPhone! Note: if no one in your group has an iPhone, I suggest you be the first. That way you not only have access to The Night Move mobile booking, but you also have a super sweet phone and all your loser friends will be jealous because they're still living in the past.

See you on the bus!


*For those of you who don't know, Dupree is our all-star, totally awesome and huge superhero driver. If you haven't met him yet, do yourself a favor. The guy is quite a character.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Launch party recap

LAUNCH PARTY PICTURES

Look for yourself in these photo albums:
And finally, here are photos Paul Hitz at MotorCityBlog took for us last week: "The Night Move."

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Weekend link list roundup

Thanks to Steve Neavling for the Freep Sunday coverage: "Night Move bus rolls into city scene with green goals";

to Tom Greenwood for the Detroit News spot last week: "Uptown-downtown shuttle service starts";

and to Sarah Hulett for the Michigan Radio story: "Shuttle Service Starts for Weekend Nightlife."

Here's the AP article, printed in the Chicago Tribune, among others: "Night Move bus offers green after-hours transport"

Here's the story Channel 7 WXYZ News posted: "Uptown Downtown Shuttle Available"

This is the Metromix article: "Night Move"

In case you haven't seen it or contributed: "New Bus Service from Suburbs to Downtown" a message board discussion on a site called Discuss Detroit.

Friday, October 10, 2008

We still have seats available for this weekend!

If you book for this weekend you can get our inaugural weekend deal -- only $6 for an all night pass! Use the coupon code launch.

Here's how to do it:
  1. Go to the booking page @ www.thenightmove.com/booking and click "Nightly Passes."
  2. Pick Royal Oak (includes Ferndale) to Detroit or Detroit to Royal Oak (still includes Ferndale).
  3. Pick the dates and times you plan on riding. Remember, you are not tied to these times. They are the only buses you're guaranteed a spot on, but as long as there's room, you can ride at any time you'd like, as often as you'd like (on the night you book for). This weekend's dates are: Friday, October 10 (duh, today), and Saturday, October 11.
  4. Enter the number of passengers, and then their names. These names will be printed on the ticket and must correspond to the IDs of passengers who try to get on the bus.
  5. Click "Book Now." When the page loads, click "Enter a coupon!" Type launch into the box as your coupon number. (Ha! That's not a number at all!) Click "Submit."
  6. Assuming you're new, ignore the top two boxes and create a username and password in the lower section, and enter your info. Click "Register."
    Here's something sweet about being a part of a new service: there's a good chance no one has the username of your first name yet. My The Night Move username is Jennifer. That's never happened before! OK sorry back to the task at hand...
  7. Review your ticket. If you missed the coupon code step back there, you have another shot now. Click "Next," then tick the box to agree to the terms, then click "Order."
  8. Enter your credit/debit card info. Click "Submit." Print here or print the confirmation email in your inbox.
  9. RIDE THE BUS!
See you there, homies!

In case you missed "Detroit Today" on Wednesday

...here's a link to the show: The Night Move (and others) on WDET's "Detroit Today." I've been told I was too casual, whatever that means. Apologies if you agree.

Thanks Motor City Blog!



Check out this awesome video our friends at Motor City Blog put together for us. We gave them the exclusive first ride on the bus, and they gave us this video and some super sweet photos. Check out their post here: Motor City Blog rides the Night Move.

Thanks a trillion, guys!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

After 5 Detroit

One more and then I'll stop: "Let the Night Move Move You!" on After 5 Detroit. Thanks, Lindsay Bryant!

Detroit Today

Hey! Don't forget to tune in to Detroit Today on WDET (101.9FM) at 11 tomorrow to hear Chris and me on live radio! And please don't judge me if I stutter. Thanks.

MotorCityBlog

Thanks to MotorCityBlog for the shout-out: "The Night Move - All night shuttle service from RO to Ferndale to Detroit to Ferndale to Royal Oak to Ferndale to Detroit to Ferndale to Royal Oak." We'll be taking a test run with the MotorCityBloggers tonight while they shoot a video and gather their feedback to report to you soon. Thanks, Detroiter, for all your help! See you tonight!

Transportation Riders United

Transportation Riders United (TRU), found at www.detroittransit.org, found out about The Night Move and posted this on their blog and homepage: "A new transportation option is coming to metro Detroit!"

Thanks, TRU, for your support. We love what you're doing and plan to get involved in the very near future. (Note to others: According to their website: "The mission of Transportation Riders United (TRU) is to improve transportation access and mobility in Greater Detroit." Maybe you should get involved, too.)

Crain's!

If you subscribe to Crain's Detroit Business you can access our story here: "Nighttime shuttle to connect Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak." If not, pick up a copy at the bookstore and read about The Night Move on page 24.

Wow, when Crain's thinks you're noteworthy, you're in, right? The Night Move is huge. And I'm conceited.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Local shout-out

Check out photographer Heather Saunderson's post about us on her Green blog. Thanks Heather!

Blogging on Metro Mode

Chris and I have such valued and important opinions that we were asked to guest blog on Metro Mode. Check out Marvin Shaouni's sweet photo of us with moving traffic in the background -- very cool.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Night Move is famous.

Sorry folks, the bus does not sign autographs.

Read about The Night Move in Real Detroit Weekly! Thanks to Travis R. Wright for being awesome.