Stories, Mobility, and Community: GPTC Launches People We Meet on the Bus in Northwest Indiana at Lake Effekt

When GPTC brought its first People We Meet on the Bus pop-up experience to the Lake Effekt Street Art Festival in Miller Beach, the goal was simple, create space for community members to share their stories and engage in conversations about transportation, mobility, and connectivity in Northwest Indiana.

ID: Group of people of all ages check out the Pop Up Event.

The result exceeded expectations.

Hosted as part of the Lake Effekt Street Art Festival, the community pop-up welcomed residents, visitors, artists, cyclists, and transit riders for an afternoon of storytelling, exploration, and engagement. Participants shared personal experiences, learned more about public transportation options in the region, tested Cycle219 bikes, and connected with fellow community members through conversations centered on how people move through Northwest Indiana.

ID: Three men decide to try Cycle219 bikes for the first time. The bikes are white cruisers with baskets.

Facilitated by our Nexus Strategy & Implementation Logistics Team, the activation served as a dynamic community engagement experience designed to elevate resident voices while creating meaningful opportunities for connection.

ID: Jessica Renslow in an olive-green blazer and blue shirt and Gretchen Sipp in a black track suit with a leopard print racing strip smile next to the Cycle219 sign.

A New Chapter for People We Meet on the Bus

The event marked the first time People We Meet on the Bus has been presented in a community outside the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

ID: Note cards with recommendations and sentiments about multimodal transportation are tacked to a corkboard.

Originally developed as a storytelling and engagement initiative focused on the experiences of transit riders, the project creates opportunities for people to share the journeys, encounters, and moments that make public transportation an important part of community life. Bringing the experience to Northwest Indiana represented an exciting expansion of the concept and demonstrated how transportation stories connect people across regions.

ID: Large group of people on a side walking chatting about transportation access.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees shared reflections on commuting, neighborhood connections, access to opportunity, and the role transit plays in everyday life. These conversations provided valuable insights while reinforcing a common theme, transportation is about more than moving people, it is about connecting communities.

Community Engagement Through Art and Place

The Miller Beach Arts & Creative District's annual Lake Effekt Street Art Festival transformed Lake Street into a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and community. Live mural painting, music, interactive art experiences, local businesses, and neighborhood pride created the perfect environment for authentic community engagement.

ID: Lake Effekt logo event letters in shades of blue and brown on a black backdrop.

As festivalgoers explored murals, listened to live performances, and participated in creative activities, they also stopped by the GPTC and Cycle219 pop-up to share stories, ask questions, and learn more about transportation options available throughout the region.

ID: Two Muralists do live art at Lake Effekt 2026.

The intersection of public art and public engagement created a powerful reminder that community building happens when people are invited to gather, participate, and be heard.

What We Heard

The event generated significant community feedback and conversation around mobility in Northwest Indiana. Residents expressed enthusiasm for active transportation options, interest in learning more about local transit services, and appreciation for opportunities to engage with transportation providers in informal, accessible settings.

ID: Woman writes thoughts about transit with a red marker.

Many participants also emphasized the importance of continued community-centered engagement that brings organizations directly into neighborhoods rather than expecting residents to attend traditional meetings or workshops.

ID: A woman and man discuss public transit.

These insights will help inform future outreach efforts while strengthening GPTC's ongoing commitment to listening to and learning from the communities it serves.

The First of Many Stops

The Lake Effekt activation was more than a successful event, it was the beginning of a broader effort.

ID: Two little boys draw what they love about active transit.

As the first in a series of active transportation and public transit engagement events planned across Northwest Indiana this summer, the pop-up demonstrated the value of meeting people where they are and creating experiences that encourage participation, conversation, and connection.

For GPTC, Cycle219, and community partners, the event reinforced an important principle, meaningful transportation planning starts with listening.

ID: Impromptu slow roll at Lake Effekt.

And for Nexus Strategy & Implementation, it offered another opportunity to design and facilitate engagement that transforms public participation from a process into an experience.

ID: Closeup of a girl's hand as she writes out thoughts about her bus experience on a note card.

Most importantly, it showed that every community has stories worth sharing, and sometimes the best conversations begin with the people we meet on the bus.

ID: Boy "tries" Cycle219 bike.