“The Wheels on the Bus” Connects Roanoke Valley Communities with Transit
Celebration on October 1 will feature 2025 Artist by Bus Joe Lee, project partners and group bus ride
Roanoke, VA – Art by Bus, an annual collaborative project of RIDE Solutions, Roanoke Arts Commission and Valley Metro, are hosting a celebration launching the creative work The Wheels on the Bus by illustrator and artist Joe Lee.
The celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 1st at 11:30 am at the Third Street Transit Station in downtown Roanoke.
The Art by Bus program partners with local artists in developing creative works that showcase how communities and citizens are connected through public transportation. Art by Bus hopes to inspire residents of all walks of life to try riding the bus to get where they need to go and see transit from a new perspective.
The Wheels on the Bus is a captivating comic book that takes the reader on a ride through Roanoke Valley neighborhoods, local landmarks and history, with the important message that all are welcome on the bus.
Free, limited-edition copies of The Wheels on the Bus will be distributed at the event.
The celebration will feature an opportunity to hear from Joe Lee on the creative process and his travels by transit through Roanoke and from Art by Bus partners.
Celebration speakers include:
- City of Roanoke Councilwoman Vivian Sanchez Jones
- Joe Lee, 2025 Artist by Bus
- Meighan Sharp – Roanoke Arts Commission, Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Hollins University
- Ron Parker – Assistant General Manager, Greater Roanoke Transit Company (GRTC)
- Amya Matthews – Regional Planner I, Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission
Following the program inside the Transit Station, attendees can participate in a photo-op in front of the newly wrapped Valley Metro bus spotlighting the book’s cover art.
Event attendees are welcome to join a group bus ride with Artist Joe Lee and project partners. The group bus ride will leave around 12 PM for a 30-minute from the Transit Station and back.
Learn more about Art by Bus and download The Wheels on the Bus for free at https://bit.ly/artbybus.
RIDE Solutions is a program of the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission. The program’s mission is to help region residents and workers find transportation options for commute and non-commute trips, by promoting existing local resources, empowering mode-shift curiosity, and assisting local government with projects that enhance the region’s transportation network, infrastructure, and facilities.
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