MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Transit celebrated a year of wins with a Tuesday ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring buses that enhance the ride for passengers with mobility issues.
“These buses were specifically designed with the wheelchair rider in mind,” Transit Director Bethany Celmar said.
“We found that the back of the bus is actually the hardest place to ride, and that is where most wheelchairs are loaded.”
Celmar said that on one of her first bus rides as director in 2023, she rode in the jump seat in the back.
“I found myself trying to brace myself because of the energy that is making you go back and forth. I realized — kind of putting myself in other people’s place — that if you don’t have real strong arms or have the use of your arms, and you’re in the wheelchair back here, it can be a little bit alarming, and it can be a very uncomfortable ride,” she said.
Celmar began looking at different floor plans and discovered that KCT can customize them.
“We picked something that had the wheelchair behind the driver’s seat. That makes the wheelchair inside the wheelbase, which is a much smoother, stable ride,” she said.
“So, really this project has been driven by compassion and just trying to see things from that different perspective.”
Celmar said about 7.5% of the transit agency’s riders need support or assistance, or use wheelchairs. Additionally, some riders use public transit to get to and from medical appointments.
“So they don’t feel great when they’re on their way back. We really wanted to seize the opportunity of being able to do something extra and accommodate that,” she said.
Inclusivity a key focus of public transit
Celmar credits support from and partnerships with other entities among its wins.
At the same time KCT was ordering the vehicle, the Knox Board of Developmental Disabilities was looking to support the transit agency in some way.
Knox DD was all in after learning about the redesigned bus project.
“They said that is exactly something that we would love to support: vehicles that are more accommodating to folks in wheelchairs,” Celmar said. “They provided the local match for us to get that bus, which that has gone up considerably.”
Knox DD Superintendent Steve Oster said the wonderful thing about the bus is that it is inclusive.
“Typically on the bus, people sit in the back and look out the back window or out the side. No one talks to them,” he said. “The new bus is in the middle, so it’s inclusive. People around them can have conversations with them.
“You feel included with everybody in the community, and that’s really important for people.”
Several of Knox DD clients use public transit for work and appointments.
“We’ve heard positive feedback already from people using it, just feeling very different about how nice the bus is and how friendly people have been,” Oster said.
“We just thank Knox County Transit for buying the bus and really thinking about inclusivity in the community.”
The buses easily accommodate two wheelchairs. The driver can squeeze in a third, although it is a bit tight.
This increases efficiency because drivers can now pick up two riders at a nursing home rather than making two trips.
Spreading the word
Knox County Transit rebranded itself in 2025. The rebrand included a new logo, colors, mission statement, and website.
That rebranding coincided with Pathways of Central Ohio’s effort to reintroduce itself and the 211 resource number to the Knox County community.
Pathways Executive Director Kristen McLeod reached out to learn about advertising on KCT buses.
“It really makes a great partnership because their services are about getting the word out about all the resources that we have,” Celmar said. “It pairs perfectly with who we serve and being able to drive around all around the county and get the advertising for them.”
McCloud said the advertising opportunity means a lot for folks in Knox County.
“This is going to put 211 in front of them, literally going down the road, all over the county,” she said. “It’s probably one of the most significant forms of marketing we’ve done of 211 in Knox County — probably since it started in 2007.”
Pathways will have signs on the interior and exterior of the buses describing 211 and how riders can access services.
“There will be a QR code that people can snap and get connected to our online resource directory so they can search for resources on their own,” McCloud said.
“We just couldn’t be happier partnering with Knox County Transit.”
Individuals can also call Pathways at 211 or text their zip code to 898-211.
