Beyond the Bus

No Broom? No Problem. CATA’s Got Your Ride Covered

Friday, October 17, 2025

Ghosts, goblins and giggles — oh my! Halloween season is rolling through the Capital City region, and CATA is here to make sure you don’t miss a single moment of fall fun. Skip the parking nightmares and ride with us to events packed with treats, costumes and community cheer. After all, why drive when you can ride and shine to every pumpkin party on your list?

Boo at the Zoo — Potter Park Zoo

📍 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing
🗓️ Every Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 – 26 | 12 – 5 p.m. | Route 8

(Photo Credit: Potter Park Zoo)

No tricks here — just a treat for the whole family! Potter Park Zoo is transforming into a Halloween wonderland full of costumes, candy and creatures. Tickets are $5 for children and $8 for adults for Ingham County residents.

Hop on route 8 to avoid parking headaches and roll straight into the fun. You’ll arrive with plenty of time to meet the animals, take photos and explore the fall magic without missing a roar — or a bus!

CATA tip: Smart riders plan ahead. Use the Trip Planner to plan your journey.

Trick or Treat on the Square — Downtown Lansing

📍 100–300 blocks of Washington Square, Lansing
🗓️ Friday, Oct. 24 | 5 – 7 p.m. | Any of 16 routes to the CATA Transportation Center

Downtown Lansing is the place to be for a classic community trick-or-treat. Visit more than 30 local vendors, including CATA and our bus, for candy, games and surprises galore. Instead of circling the block for parking, hop on any route that connects to the CATA Transportation Center — it’s just steps away from all the excitement.

CATA tip: Let the bus carry your candy haul — there’s plenty of room for sweet treats on board!

ArachnoBROADia! — MSU Broad Art Museum

📍 547 E. Circle Drive, East Lansing
🗓️ Sunday, Oct. 26 | 1 – 4 p.m. | Routes 1, 20, 22, 24, or 26

(Photo Credit: The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at MSU)

Creepy, crawly and totally creative! The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at MSU is hosting ArachnoBROADia!, a spooky afternoon of eight-legged fun for all ages. Make your own Halloween crafts inspired by the museum’s collection, then hop on route 24 or 26 to visit the MSU Bug House and meet some real-life crawlers.

Take your pick of CATA routes and let us spin the web to campus — no need to get tangled in traffic.

CATA tip: Make sure to register for free, so bring your curiosity (and maybe your courage) for this family-friendly fright!

Halloween Spooktacular — Marketplace on the Green

📍 1995 Central Park Drive, Okemos
🗓️ Thursday, Oct. 30 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Route 1, 22, 23

(Photo Credit: Meridian Township)

Get ready for music, crafts and candy that’ll make everyone smile! Hop aboard route 1 to reach the Marketplace on the Green in Okemos, where live tunes, games and pumpkin fun await. Children must pre-register for $8 per child. Save your energy for the dance floor instead of finding parking.

CATA tip: Don’t forget to check your route times before heading out — no one wants to miss the last bus or the last candy bar!

Wherever your Halloween adventures take you, CATA’s ready to drive the fun. From art nights to zoo frights, we’ll get you there safely, easily and without a single parking scare. Plan your trip, grab your costume and let the ride do the rest — because the only thing spooky about this season should be the decorations.

Plan your trip today and let the Halloween fun roll!

Your Fall Ride Guide: Fun Around the Capital City

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Categories: Blog

The leaves are changing and the air is crisp, which means fall is pulling into the station. From colorful trail rides and football pride to tasty festivals and farmers markets, the Capital City region is full of autumn adventures.

So, grab your sweater, hop on board and check out these must-do stops this fall.

First Stop: Scenic Rides Along the River Trail

Location: Lansing River Trail
Dates: Any day this fall

image3.jpg, Picture As the fall colors are starting to show, there’s no better front-row seat than the Lansing River Trail. New bus shelters have been installed along key access points to make your Transit to Trails journey seamless. Each one features bike repair stations, bike racks, trash receptacles and wayfinding signage to keep your trip on track. New trail wayfinding signs also point the way to the nearest bus stop, so you can hop off the bus and right onto the trail.

And if you want to bring your bike for the ride, no problem. Every CATA bus is equipped with bike racks, letting you combine pedal power and public transit with ease.

Travel tip: Plan your trip with the Lansing River Trail Map and check CATA Routes & Schedules to find your nearest stop.

Second Stop: MSU Football Game Day Shuttles

Location: Spartan Stadium (325 W Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824)
Dates: Every MSU home game

Fall Saturdays are made for football, and CATA is ready to carry you to victory. Skip the gridlock and ride straight to the action on our MSU football shuttles. image1.png, Picture

Green Line: Lot 89, $20 parking, free shuttle, service begins five hours before kickoff.

White Line (New Location): Lot 200 Pavilion for RVs and charter buses, $60 for RVs and $100 for charter buses, shuttle begins three to two hours before kickoff.

Lot 48 Shuttle: Reserved handicap parking only, $30 includes roundtrip shuttle pass, service starts two hours before kickoff.

Travel tip: Get there early to grab your spot and enjoy the pregame energy without the parking hassle.

Third Stop: Meridian Township Farmers' Market

Location: Marketplace on the Green (1995 Central Park Drive, Okemos)
Dates: Wednesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 29

This market is the perfect place to grab farm-fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and more while supporting local growers. image2.png, Picture

Travel tip: Hop on Route 1 to the Meridian Mall, then enjoy a short stroll to the pavilion.

Fourth Stop: Festivals That Keep Fall Rolling

Location: Adado Riverfront Park, Jackson Field, Allen Neighborhood Center

Fall festival season is in full swing, and CATA can get you there in style:

Annual Dance by the River Pow Wow: Sept. 27–28, ride Routes 12, 14, 16 or 48 directly to Adado Riverfront Park.

Chili Cook Off: Oct. 4, ride Route 1 to Jackson Field.

Harvest Festival: Oct. 15, ride Route 15 to Allen Neighborhood Center.

Fenner’s Annual Apple Butter Festival: Oct. 18–19, ride Route 7 or 18 to the Fenner Nature Center.

Travel tip: Be sure to check for detours before you head out — we’ll keep the wheels turning so you don’t miss a beat.

This season is packed with local flavor, fall color and community spirit. From the quiet trails to the loud crowds, CATA can get you to every stop on your autumn adventure.

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Transit to Trails: Your route to adventure

Friday, June 27, 2025

Categories: Blog

Ready to explore the great outdoors? CATA connects you to the trails you love with its Transit to Trails initiative, made possible by a generous grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces program. This summer, four bus stops near the Lansing River Trail will be upgraded with bus shelters and modern amenities, including bike racks, bicycle repair stations, USB charging ports and solar-powered lights.

Start your adventure from these bus stops and explore nearby parks and trails. CATA makes your transition from Transit to Trails even easier, giving you the tools you need to enjoy nature’s scenic routes. Find out more at the Transit to Trails webpage.

This content has been published in the 2025 Community Report.

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