Get Ready To Hop To It: New Mascot, Design Selected For Princeton Buses

PRINCETON, NJ — Get ready to hop to it. A new mascot and design for Princeton's municipal transit system was unanimously selected by the Council.

"The idea being it's accessible. It's welcoming. It's fun, light, whimsical," said Council President Michelle Pirone Lambros.

The Council had previously selected "Princeton Loop" as the new name for the bus system. They then began working with the graphic design company Smith-Manning.

A new Princeton Loop Bus Wrap Design was presented by Smith-Manning to the Council at the Jan. 12 meeting. Two options were presented - a squirrel with the tagline "Get in the Loop and Ride Free!" or a frog with the tagline "Hope On. It's Free."

"The idea of that icon, that logo, it translates to a sign really well, and it really says transit," said Lambros.

At first, many of the councilmembers were leaning toward the squirrel, as the black squirrel is synonymous with Princeton.

"The nice thing about the squirrel is they are everywhere and its town gown. Anybody can ride this bus, so it's very accessible. Princeton-y town and gown," said Sarah Lewis Smith of Smith-Manning.

Councilman Leighton Newlin shared his concerns with the overuse of the tree and squirrel logos.

"I gotta be honest, and this is just me. We want to have fun with this. We want older people to use it. Outside of rush hour. We got the tree for our municipal logo. The squirrel. It's all about trees and squirrels. I’m tired of trees, and I’m tired of squirrels. This frog. Hop on. It’s magical. Its mystical," said Newlin. "Hop on. It's free is a no-brainer."

"I just have to land with the frog. I think it's so compelling. I can’t really articulate why other than that it just seems to fit because I like the frog image visually," said Councilwoman Mia Sacks.

Councilwoman Leticia Fraga added that she preferred the frog as well.

"I must admit I am a bit biased. Fraga. Frog," said Fraga. "Since middle school has been the connection."

The Council unanimously voted for the frog mascot and tagline. The Municipality will now begin to market the new campaign.

"The bottom line is we want to get people on the bus using it and get excited about it," said Lambros.

Princeton's Free Municipal Bus Service is open to the entire community. The Muni Transit starts at the Harriet Bryan House on Elm Court and travels to Nassau Street, and the Princeton Shopping Center.

This service runs Monday to Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The bus will not operate on the following observed holidays: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

For more information, visit princetonnj.gov/578/Getting-Around-Princeton.

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