We are people who use and drive transit frequently in the Twin Cities area who fight for a just, robust, and reliable transit system. We believe that the regional transit system shall:
- Be safe
- Be affordable
- Be environmentally sound
- Be prioritized
- Allow riders and drivers to support each other
- Ensure that transit coverage and service addresses the needs of those most impacted and affected
Our Steering Committee consists exclusively of POCs and FTWs; most of us grew up riding transit. We conduct canvasses, convene working groups that push for a better, more inclusive transit system, and organize events and forums.
There have been many attempts at starting a transit riders union. Until 2017, most of those efforts have failed. A perfect storm of events, which included the agency's 1st fare increase in 10 years, decreased transit service, and brutal treatment of riders of color by Metro Transit Police necessitated our organizing.
While we do work with Metro Transit from time to time, we are not affiliated with them.
The Twin Cities Transit Riders Union is a member of the Transit Advocates Network, convened by Bus Riders Unite of Portland, Oregon.
Our Work So Far
Since we started, we've convened the following forums to engage and empower riders around the following issues:
We're also conducting an ongoing survey about riders' experiences with regional transit. Click here to take the survey.
- Transit Rider Listening Session (December 2017)
- A Forum On The State Of Regional Transit (March 2018)
- Hennepin County Commissioner Forums (District 2 in May 2018, Districts 3 and 4 in April 2018) (with Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition and Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America)
- Policing & Safety (June 2018, with MN350)
- Fare Policy (July 2018, with MN350)
- Operator Safety (August 2018, with ATU Local 1005)
- Clean Fleets (August 2018, with MN350)
We're also conducting an ongoing survey about riders' experiences with regional transit. Click here to take the survey.
Victories
- Worked with environmental groups to successfully stop the purchase of 131 dirty diesel buses over the next 5 years (September 2018)
- With MN350 and ISAIAH, forced the Met Council to acknowledge and understand racial disparities in policing on transit on its 2018 Transportation Policy Plan update (October 2018)
In The News
- Letters: With Electric Buses, Metro Transit Shows Climate Leadership (December 14, 2018)
- Metro Transit Plans To Shift Bus Fleet To All-Electric (December 10, 2018)
- Activists Call For Changes In Light Rail Rules After Woman's Arrest In August (September 11, 2018)
- Activists Call For One-Day Boycott Of Metro Transit (August 30, 2018)