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: Eddie Alvarez
I’m a union representative for the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. I grew up in the trades. My father is an elevator constructor, and I started as a laborer.
In the trades, our goal is to create better opportunities for our members and their families, and I see public transit as a key part of that.
Transit Tuesday: Lisa Miller
I started working when I was 14. For decades, $9.66 an hour was the most I had ever made in my life. I’m far from the only Kansas City resident whose low wages required me to use the bus as my main mode of transportation.
It’s a lifeline for me and thousands of people in Kansas City. It’s how we get to work, to the doctor, to run errands, and live our daily lives.
Transit Tuesday: Eric Moran
I live in North Minneapolis with my spouse and our 9-year-old child. I use public transit regularly, both on my own and with my family, to get to work, meet friends, attend concerts and sporting events, and run errands.
Transit Tuesday: Talia Orr
I’ve been riding public transit for decades, and it’s how I get everywhere I need to go.
Transit Tuesday: Parker Seaman
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Move MN – Growing up in a small town of about 500 people in South Dakota, getting around always meant driving. But after moving to Minneapolis in the spring of 2019, I realized how different life could be without a car. Now, I use public transit and my bike to get where I need to go—whether visiting my partner, grocery shopping, or attending events. And I’ve come to appreciate the city’s biking infrastructure, with protected bike lanes that make it safer and easier to get around, even though winters can be challenging. I live close to several transit routes, but the bus stops near my apartment vary in quality—one stop has a shelter, bench, and schedule, but others are just a sign by the curb, with no protection from the elements. I’m glad to have multiple routes close by, but it’d be nice if all transit stops in the region had consistent, basic amenities. Beyond our transit system within Minneapolis, one thing I would like to see is better transit to more rural areas. If there were a train connecting cities to smaller towns, like my hometown, it would make a huge difference. Right now, there aren’t any
Transit Tuesday: Shandi Edgecombe
Nashville, Tennessee, Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee — So much of what makes me who I am is rooted in public transit and travel.
