June is Ride Transit Month and all month long we’re celebrating the systems, staff, and riders who make transit in Washington so fantastic. Join us at one of Ride Transit Month’s upcoming events:
- Transit Talk: A Just Recovery Will Take Transit
June 16, 2021 — 1:00pm PT
Join Richard de Sam Lazaro of Expedia Group, Chris O’Claire of King County Metro Transit, Chris Van Eyken of TransitCenter, and moderator Kelsey Mesher, of Transportation Choices Coalition for this panel discussion about what to expect on transit as we reopen and to ask your questions. - Transit Trivia
June 23, 2021 — 4:00pm PT
Can you name all the transit agencies in Washington? Do you like prizes, fun, and friendly competition about transit? Organize a team because Transit Trivia is for you!
See the full schedule and learn about additional ways to get involved on the Ride Transit Month homepage. We want to hear what your return to transit has been like and your vision for the future — share on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram with the hashtag #RideTransitMonth or tag us at @transpochoices.
Read more below about what we’ve been up to and how you can get involved.
— Transportation Choices Coalition
Look of the season
Recent news
As Seattle slowly reopens, focus on the facts, not fears, of bus ridership
Seattle Times Opinion — May 10, 2021
“Many riders are now looking ahead to a return to the office and a return to transit, too. In the last several months, scientists have learned a lot about COVID-19 safety on transit, giving us facts to guide future travel decisions.”
Don’t make Tri-Citians choose between transit and mental health care
Tri-City Herald — June 7, 2021
“We need more mental health care services and we need public transit, too. Both are important ways to help our community prosper, and it’s shortsighted to cut one to fund the other.”
U.S. House Democrats propose $547 billion surface transport plan
Reuters — June 4, 2021
“A group of key U.S. House Democrats introduced legislation on Friday to authorize $547 billion in additional spending over five years on surface transport.”
Inslee signs climate bills, but vetoes parts that tie them to passage of a transportation package
Seattle Times — May 17, 2021
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Monday signed into law a carbon-cap program and a bill on clean-fuels standards but vetoed parts of those bills that require a new statewide transportation-funding package.
Governor’s veto does nothing to change our urgent need for multimodal transportation investments
Transportation Choices Coalition — May 17, 2021
“Washingtonians want transportation investments, and TCC is committed to finding a path forward to pass a comprehensive transportation package.”
Link Transit goes fare-free
Transportation Choices Coalition — May 21, 2021
“Exciting news from our member agency Link Transit: Link paused collecting fares during the pandemic. Now, they recently announced that starting July 1 Link will stay a fare-free system for at least the next year!”
Invisible Cyclists: Why People of Color Need to be Part of Post-Pandemic Transportation Planning
Milwaukee Independent – May 20, 2021
“As a professor of urban and environmental policy and planning, I believe it critical that city planners, lawmakers and bike advocates fully understand how barriers to cycling faced by people living in poorer neighborhoods are interconnected.”
How Buttigieg Could Make Transportation Safer, According to LGBTQ+ Advocacy Groups
Condé Nast Traveler — February 23, 2021
Published earlier this year but shared again in honor of Pride. “Policy reforms that community members and allies hope to see range from modernized identification markers for trans and non-binary people to alerts when visiting countries that criminalize those who identify as LGBTQ+.
Our stories from riding transit during a pandemic
In May 2021 Transportation Choices Coalition put out a call for stories about Washingtonians’ experiences with transit this past year. Here’s a sampling of what we’ve heard so far.
Introducing our Resilience + Recovery Fund
Transit and inclusive transportation options will be an integral part of Washington’s recovery as well as an important piece of our continued effort to correct racial and economic injustice. In the months and years ahead, our efforts to fund transit in Washington will be more necessary than ever.
In recognition of that, the Transportation Choices Coalition Board of Directors is proud to launch the Resilience & Recovery Fund, our 2021 fundraising campaign to support transportation advocacy in Washington. Join us in donating to the Fund today:
Events and resources
Tuesday, June 8 – 8:00pm EDT
Join sea.citi and OneEastside to learn more about Covid’s impact on regional transportation and the opportunity to build back sustainably.
When It Takes You Two Hours and Three Buses to Get to the Grocery Store
Monday, June 14 – 12:00pm
How can we create a transportation system that encourages people with the privilege to drive to choose to do it less? Start with those who can’t drive. A presentation by Disability Rights Washington.
Mayoral Candidate Forum on transportation, equity, and the environment
Wednesday, June 16 – 5:30pm
Hear what Seattle mayor candidates have to say about transportation, equity and the environment. Moderated by Erica C. Barnett and sponsored by the Seattle Transit Riders Union, MASS Coalition, and allies.
City Council Position 9 Forum
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Join the Move All Seattle Sustainably (MASS) Coalition and allies for a Seattle City Council Position 9 candidate forum focusing on transportation, equity, and the environment.
Move Redmond: Walk and Talk at Overlake Village Light Rail Station
June 23, 2021 — 5:00-6:00pm
We will explore how it feels to access the new light rail station and the surrounding neighborhood by walking or rolling.
Trailhead Direct Returns for 2021 Season in June with Two Routes
The Urbanist – May 21, 2021
This year’s Trailhead Direct network will come with two routes serving Seattle, Bellevue, and Issaquah to popular hiking trailheads in the Issaquah Alps and near North Bend.
2021 Washington Bike, Walk, Roll Summit Presented by Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes RFP
This conference RFP seeks innovative, thought provoking, action-oriented content related to biking, walking, active transportation, disability rights and mobility justice from Washington state and beyond.
Students Ride Free this Summer on Snoqualmie Valley Transportation
Snoqualmie Valley Transportation (SVT) will provide bus service to youth 18 and younger free of charge, from June 1 through August 31, this summer.
Take action
As Ride Transit Month gets under way, we want to know: How do you define a future with incredible transit?
Mission in motion
Staff pick
“I really like Greenlining’s new Clean Mobility Equity Playbook, which gives honest and straightforward recommendations around electrification. It includes common-sense ideas like focusing our limited resources for incentives on the people who face the most barriers to access, and phasing out programs that continue to entrench our dependency on single-occupancy vehicles. Check it out, as well as Greenlining’s other awesome reports.”
Policy Director
Meme in motion
Shout out this month to Mr. Barricade, the San Jose, CA transportation planner and TikTok sensation who explains all the different ways that infrastructure choices can make intersections safer for people of all ages and abilities who are walking, rolling, and biking.
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