To commemorate the birthday of civil rights activist Rosa Parks, regional transit agencies Wednesday will offer free rides on buses, trains and other modes of transportation.
On Wednesday, transit agencies will mark Transit Equity Day, which honors Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a public transit bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Her actions helped launch the civil rights movement and helped end segregation on public transit.
Metro, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Metrolink, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Orange County Transportation Authority are participating for the day.
To mark the occasion, Metro released a new Transit Equity Day Tap card, available for $2, plus fare at Metro Customers Centers and select Metro rail and busway stations.
Metro ambassadors will be out and about across the system, conducting giveaways for riders. The agency will offer free rides starting at 4 a.m. until 3 a.m. Thursday.
Metro’s bike share and ride-share programs will also be free.
The bike share will be free for 30-minute rides by selecting “1-Ride” at a kiosk, online or in the Metro bike share app and entering code 020426. The code may be used multiple times throughout the day.
Riders can redeem a free ride on the agency’s ride-share program, Metro Micro, in available selected L.A. County neighborhoods, using the code “Equity26.”
The agency scheduled a ceremony Saturday to open the doors for its new office in Van Nuys, which will help sign up residents for a program providing free rides and reduced fares to low-income riders. The event will be a way for the agency to further mark Transit Equity Day.
Additionally, Metro in partnership with the Willowbrook Inclusion Network will deliver “Markets at Metro, Roots & Routes,” a community celebration at the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station to celebrate Rosa’s birthday.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation will provide free rides on its Commuter Express and DASH service lines across the city of Los Angeles.
Metrolink is offering free rides to honor the civil rights pioneer too. No ticket is required to ride the train.
Pasadena Transit and Foothill Transit will also observe Transit Equity Day and provide free rides.
Riders on the Orange County Transportation Authority can expect free bus rides, as well as customers of the SBCTA’s five transit providers in San Bernardino County — Omnitrans, Mountain Transit, Basin Transit, Victor Valley Transit Authority and Needles Area Transit.