Transit Tuesday: Phillip Harrison
Overland Park, KS – My name is Phillip Harrison. I live in a much different Kansas City than my mother did when she moved here from South Dakota in the late 1950s. She didn’t need a car. Kansas City had street cars and corner grocery stores. She said people even called it the Little Apple back then. Since then, the Kansas City area has sprawled out and having a car is almost the only way to get where you need to go.
Transit Tuesday: Susan Reynolds
Hartford, CT – I’ve lived in Hartford for over 40 years, and public transit is how I get everywhere I need to go —whether it’s the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, or running errands. I never got a driver’s license because of epilepsy when I was younger, and even though I’m no longer epileptic, I never pursued one. Instead, I’ve always relied on buses.
Transit Tuesday: Atticus Yarbrough
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.
Transit Tuesday: Alisa Grishman
My name is Alisa Grishman, and I am a disability activist, wheelchair user, public transit rider, and proud member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Public transit is my freedom.
Transit Tuesday: Zaira Rodriguez
Minneapolis, MN – My name is Zaira Rodríguez, and I am a retail janitor at the Mall of America in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. I help keep our mall clean by vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, and washing the floors, which is especially important during the rainy and snowy seasons here. I am also a proud member of my union, SEIU Local 26.
Transit Tuesday: Safiya Ilyas
Seattle, WA – My name is Safiya Ilyas. I’m a first generation Somali American, and the eldest of four. I love the outdoors, and go hiking with friends anytime I find free time. I also love spending time with my family. I just graduated from high school, where I was a Seattle Public Schools Student […]
Transit Tuesday: Eshawney Gaston
My name is Eshawney Gaston, and I’m a food service worker in Durham, North Carolina. In the past, I’ve been a cook, but I’ve worked the register and have done warehouse work as well. I’m also a proud member of my union, United Southern Service Workers (USSW). I’ve been using the public transit system since […]
Transit Tuesday: Vanessa Alvarez
I work at a convenience store and take the bus to and from work every day. I have to be at work at 7 a.m. most days, so I get up at 5:30 a.m. to take the 6:30 a.m. bus. The ride is only 10-12 minutes if the bus comes on time. When the bus doesn’t come, which happens often, I have to wait 45 minutes to an hour for the next bus, and then I am late to work.
Transit Tuesday: Brinda Gurumoorthy
I am a high school math teacher in Dallas, Texas, public schools. I am also a proud union member with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). When I moved to Dallas a couple of years ago, I was under the impression that it was like other big cities like New York, where everyone could use public transit to get around where they need to go. However, I realized quickly that this isn’t the case and that we don’t have world-class public transit across the country.
Transit Tuesday: William Sheets
Chicago, IL – My name is William Sheets. I am an Amazon delivery driver, and I bring packages to Chicago’s doorsteps. I’m a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Transit has been essential for me since coming to Chicago. I ended up losing my car in May. It impacted me significantly, and I needed to start riding public transit.
