Celebrating Transit Equity

Buffalo Transit Riders United (BTRU) hosted a press conference to celebrate Transit Equity at the Freedom Wall located at 1525 Michigan Ave Buffalo NY 14209. The press conference was open to the public and was a collaborative effort of several organizations and unions to promote public transit as a civil right and a strategy to combat climate change.

In February 2018, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) partnered with the Labor Network for Sustainability to launch Transit Equity Day in honor of Rosa Parks’ birthday, which is on February 4. They chose to honor Rosa Parks for the role she played in the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her seat at the front of the bus and, in doing so, lift up transit as a workers’ rights, civil rights, and climate-justice issue.

Since its launch, Transit Equity Day has grown each year. In 2022, there were nearly 50 events across the country and a social media explosion that brought attention to transit equity beyond just the participating locations. Just as important, a Transit Equity Network emerg-ed through the process. Consisting largely of grassroots advocates, the network has grown, and relationships have deepened both locally and nationally. Join us as we rally around strategies that can be used to impact the drivers shortage.

Buffalo Transit Riders United invited riders and the Community to the Press Conference on Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024 morning, to Celebrate Transit Equity, held at the Freedom Wall, 1525 Michigan Ave. Buffalo.

According to Buffalo Transit Riders United: “Public Transit provides basic mobility for many in our communities. It is also essential urban infrastructure – just like roads, bridges, tunnels and utilities – that is crucial to the economic, social and environmental well-being of all our regions. So, join transit riders along with community partners from The City of Buffalo’s Mayor’s office, NFTA, the local ATU, and others to stand in solidarity for the continued fight for a more just and equitable Transportation system.