Louisville, KY – I moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 2018 from Orlando, Florida. I’m a student at the University of Louisville, studying anthropology and geography, which sparked my interest in urban planning and transit systems. I also work as a researcher for a nonprofit focused on identifying and addressing service gaps in the community, including transportation.
I’ve never owned a car, so public transit and walking are my only ways of getting around. I live near the 4th Street bus line, which connects me to everything I need—my home, school, work, and even the grocery store. While this line is relatively reliable, with buses arriving on time most of the day, recent service cuts have made things much harder. Other routes I rely on have reduced frequency, and some stops are in such poor condition that they’re barely accessible. I’ve been stranded multiple times due to these service cuts, something that rarely happened before.
The lack of proper infrastructure at bus stops is a big concern for me. Many stops are just signs on the side of the road, with no benches or shelters. Some stops don’t even have sidewalks, making them dangerous to access. When shelters or benches are damaged, it can take months for them to be fixed, if they’re repaired at all. As someone with chronic pain, I’ve often had to sit on the ground while waiting for a bus, regardless of the weather. It’s not just my personal experience though—I recently worked with the Old Louisville Mobility Coalition to conduct a bus stop audit. Within their two-square-mile service area, which overlaps with half of Louisville’s bus routes, 101 of the 133 bus stops received a “fair” or “poor” rating. Very few bus stops had benches or shelters. These conditions make transit unwelcoming for riders, especially those who are disabled or elderly. Service cuts have also left many people in Louisville without access to their basic needs. For some, the bus is the only way to get to work, school, medical care, or access food. Without reliable transit, they’re essentially trapped in areas with limited resources, which only deepens cycles of poverty and crisis. Even though I live on one of the busiest routes, I’ve felt the impact of these cuts, and I know it’s even worse for others.
If I could tell policymakers one thing, it’s that public transit is essential. It’s not just about getting people to work—it’s about connecting them to every aspect of their lives. We need more funding at both the local and federal levels, especially for operating budgets. Right now, Louisville’s transit system is funded by an outdated occupational tax that hasn’t been adjusted in 50 years. It’s just not enough to meet the city’s growing needs.
Investing in transit is about more than transportation. It’s about creating a stronger, more equitable community. It’s about giving people freedom and opportunity. And it’s about addressing bigger issues like economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Public transit has the power to transform cities like Louisville, but only if our decision makers are willing to invest in it.