Transit Tuesday: Vinh Nhu Pham
Providence, RI – I’m Vinh, a student at Brown University studying Urban Studies. I grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia, a suburban area where getting around without a car was almost impossible. My interest in public transportation started in high school when I realized how few options there were for students who couldn’t drive. I remember walking home along a two-lane road with no sidewalks because there was no bus service to my neighborhood. That experience made me want to learn more about making transit more equitable and accessible.
Transit Tuesday: Jesse Cook
St. Paul, MN – I’ve lived in the Twin Cities for about four years while attending college, where I’m studying aerospace engineering. Originally from Colorado, I’ve experienced transit in rural, suburban, and urban settings. However, it wasn’t until I moved here that I started using transit regularly. Between buses, light rail, and biking, I can get just about anywhere I need to go without a car.
Transit Tuesday: Judy Jones
My name is Judy Jones, and I live in Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County. I am blind, due to retinopathy of prematurity. I am currently a white cane user, but I have also been a guide dog user. As blind people, my husband and I have been very independent.
I’ve been riding transit since 1979. Transit has allowed me to have a working career, to raise my kids, and to get where I need to and want to go.
Transit Tuesday: Neil Sealy
Little Rock, AR – I grew up in Durham, NC which was an easy place to get around as a kid. My sisters all got drivers licenses when they were 16 but that wasn’t an option for me since I was legally blind so I walked or bicycled on the relatively empty streets or took the bus.
Transit Tuesday: Kelly Ehrhart
I live in Nashua, NH and have been active with the New Hampshire Developmental Disability Quality Council and Disability Rights Council NH. I’m on the autism spectrum and have heart disease so I use buses, Medicaid transportation, Uber, Lyft, and taxis to get around.
Transit Tuesday: Steven Glassford
Minneapolis, MN – I’m Steven, and I live in downtown Minneapolis, where I work as a bus operator. But I don’t just drive the bus—I ride it daily. Whether I’m heading to the YMCA, the library, or work, I take transit because it’s convenient, affordable, and the best way to navigate the city without relying on a car.
Transit Tuesday: Summer Begnaud
Honolulu, HI – My name is Summer. I grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana and Houston, Texas, where sprawling cities and car dependency were the norm. After visiting walkable cities like Paris and now living in Honolulu, Hawaii, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for public transit and urban design that prioritizes people over cars.
Transit Tuesday: Ron Williams
Robbinsdale, MN – I’ve lived in Minnesota since 1978. For 30 years, I used public transit to commute to work in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Even after retiring in 2010, I still rely on buses and trains to get to the University of Minnesota for classes, attend events, and visit friends. Transit isn’t just about getting around for me—it’s about independence, affordability, and creating a better community.
Transit Tuesday: Jenny McBride
Anchorage, AK – I grew up in suburban Chicago, where there wasn’t much public transit, and everyone relied on cars. But I’ve always cared about conservation, so I never bought a car and instead made my way on bikes and transit. Now, living in Juneau, Alaska, I’m grateful to live in a place where I can still get around without a car. I take the bus to work daily, and while the system isn’t perfect, it gets me to most places I need to go.
Transit Tuesday: Angelick Gittens
Irmo, SC – My son and I live in Irmo, South Carolina just outside of Columbia. He is my first and only and about to turn 18! I’m legally blind and had my first eye surgery when I was 8 years old to remove cataracts. My latest surgery is a more serious operation to repair and rebuild the nerves in the back of my eyes. Since I don’t drive I’ve been active with Able South Carolina advocating for better services, especially better transit and paratransit.
