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: 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 Board Member, on Congressman Adam Smith’s Youth Council member, a Running Start Student, a barista, and a Fred Hutch intern. It was a busy four years! This summer, I’m doing an internship with Microsoft, and then I’ll be heading to Scripps College in the fall. While I do have access to a car that I share with my mom, I’ve found Seattle’s public transit to be the best way to get to school. For one, it’s the most affordable option. Seattle’s transit system is free for people under 18, which is a huge incentive to use it over driving. It’s also the fastest option. If I were to take the car, I’d be stuck in traffic, and I’d have to find parking in Capitol Hill, which is impossible. Meanwhile, my bus runs every 5 to 10 minutes and drops me off right in front of
