On February 4th across the country, activists call attention to public transit and access to transportation, especially inequitable access. Why February 4th? February 4th is Rosa Parks birthday, an activist in the civil rights movement who took on bus segregation. Her act of defiance on December 1st, 1965 in Montgomery AL and the ensuing bus boycott became a spark for the movement.
Today, transit and transportation activists fight for safe, affordable and reliable means of transportation for all. Car ownership should not determine whether a person can live a full and meaningful and satisfying life!
In Madison, as in other Wisconsin cities, our transportation system can and must be better. For many, public transit is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. People of different abilities or people who cannot afford a car or don't drive need to be able to get to work as well as doctors' appointments, school, the grocery store, places of worship and parks for recreation. People with different abilities cannot live full lives without quality transit service.
The Four Lakes Group with other activists will be working to bring recognition to the day by getting Mayors to make a proclamation that supports public transportation as a right and of the vital role public transit plays in shifting the transportation sector from fossil fuels to a renewable and efficient sector with a just transition for communities and workers.
Make Transit Equity Day a personal day of action. You can:
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Show your appreciation for transit workers who have provided a lifeline for communities and frontline workers during the pandemic
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Write a letter to the editor (sample letter coming soon!)
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Ride a bus and post on social media
- Take part in an event near you! https://www.labor4sustainability.org/transit-equity-2022/ted-2022-events/
For more information or to get involved, contact Four Lakes Group volunteer, Erik Pettersen.