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Paying Tribute to Rosa Parks 

Rosa Parks is commemorated twice a year. Parks is best remembered for her brave act of resistance on December 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Her actions inspired the local Black community to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annually, December 1 is remembered as Rosa Parks Day. Additionally, Rosa Park's birthday, February 4, is celebrated nationally as Transit Equity Day. 

The boycott kicked off on December 1, lasted more than a year, and ended only when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. The year of the boycott was filled with hardship for the Black community, many of whom were dependent on buses for transportation. Parks lost her job and experienced harassment but became a nationally recognized representation of dignity and strength in the fight to end racial segregation.  

Park’s role highlighted racism in the public transit system and ignited change. It affirmed that transportation equity is a civil right and highlighted the importance and great responsibility that all transit departments have to ensure that all residents are served equitably. 

At the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, everything we do is measured through a lens of equity. Bus fares have been reduced to $1, from the $2 pre-pandemic fare, to make transit more affordable and the department honors local programs providing free rides to seniors, people with disabilities, and county youth. 

Through our Ride On Reimagined Study, we have been working to reassess our transit system to best meet our rider's needs. Through public engagement and feedback, the study produced system-wide recommendations to better serve over one million County residents. 

Our mission is to move people and connect places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy in Montgomery County.

To commemorate Rosa Parks Day and Transit Equity Day, the fleet of nearly 400 MCDOT Ride On buses displays interior commemorative posters to honor Rosa Parks for her bravery and the importance of the movement she ignited. Be sure to visit our library of customer videos to hear about what transit equity means to our riders. We will be adding videos throughout the year.

Low-Income Transportation Resources

Connect-A-Ride Provides free information on transportation programs available for older adults and members of the disability community.

Call-N-Ride is a subsidized taxi service for low-income seniors aged 65 and older and low-income persons with disabilities ages 18-62. Subsidy assistance is provided on a sliding fee scale determined by total household income.

Bike & Scooter Programs

Capital BikeShare provides the Capital BikeShare For All program, offering free unlimited 60-minute rides on pedal and e-bikes with and a free helmet to qualifying low-income residents. 

Bird provides the Bird Access program that offers unlimited 30-minute e-scooter rides for free to low-income riders who are enrolled, or are eligible to be enrolled, in government assistance programs.  

Lime provides the Lime Access program, providing qualifying users with significantly discounted e-bike and e-scooter rides.  

Spin provides the Spin Access program, offering a variety of reduced ride rates for e-bikes and e-scooters to users with limited incomes. 

 

Listen to our rider perspectives about Transit Equity Day.