TRANSIT STORIES
Transit Stories is a series of real-life experiences with public transit in the U.S. We feature the first-hand experience of public transit riders. From large cities to small towns, we will document the experiences of the millions of users of buses, trains, ferries, and other forms of public transit in the US.
Public transit is essential to our communities, to cooling the planet, and to advancing equity.
Transit is essential to our very lives. This year there is a unique opportunity for the country to make a historic investment in public transit funding to help the country build back better.
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.
Transit Tuesday: Grace Chung
I do have a driver’s license, but I’m a tentative driver and feel safer taking the bus. I used to take the bus everywhere in Chicago and Korea. Here in Honolulu, I have waited 20 or 30 minutes for a bus and sometimes have just given up and walked.
Transit Tuesday: Gio Roman Torres
Chattanooga, TN – My name is Gio Roman Torres. Growing up in Los Angeles, my single mom didn’t drive, so we took buses to get around. From school drop-offs to trips to work, the DASH and Metro systems were lifelines for us. Even now, living in Chattanooga, I continue to use public transit, though the experience is a bit different here.
Transit Tuesday: Sandra Ellington
Cleveland, OH – My name is Sandra Ellington. As a member of SEIU Local 1 in Cleveland, I clean large public facilities. You may have seen me at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport, where I worked for 17 years. Now, I am working at the Cleveland Water Department. These facilities and the role that cleaners play are critical to making Cleveland a smooth-running, vibrant city. The same can be said about public transit and the people who clean, fix, and operate it.
Transit Tuesday: Jordan Kelly
My name is Jordan, and I’ve lived in Ann Arbor for years. Public transit has been essential to my daily life. I work as a laboratory technician at the University of Michigan, and I rely on the bus to get to work. Owning a car has never been a realistic option for me. Between the costs of buying a car, maintaining it, and paying for parking, it’s just not feasible—especially in a city as expensive as Ann Arbor.
Transit Tuesday: Will Hazen
Indianapolis, IN – My name is Will Hazen. As both a transit rider and a bus operator here in Indianapolis, I get to experience our transit system from a range of perspectives. While my boyfriend and I own a car, I take the bus to work every day because it’s faster than having to find a place to park downtown and then walk the remaining distance to work. It’s also so much less expensive than paying for gas and the insurance costs that come with driving a lot.
