On Wednesday. July 22nd the Bus Riders Union, as part of the Transit Riders for Public Transportation (TRPT) national campaign, organized bus riders in Los Angeles to urge their Congressmembers and President Obama for dedicated transit operation funding in the next federal surface transportation act.

Organizing drive 

This mass organizing drive was part of a coordinated National Day of Action, where transit advocates, environmental justice and civil rights groups highlighted growing service cuts and fare increases threatening transit riders all over the country and the critical role that the federal government can play to relieve the economic and public health burdens placed especially on Black, Latino, and low income riders resulting from cutting transit.

Superpasajera helps gather 100s of signatures

The morning started with lively announcements by our very own Superpasajera encouraging the public to sign our giant People's Bus Petition to President Obama on the corner of Wilshire Western. We gathered hundreds of signatures from Latina mothers, Korean and Black elders, students, and workers who were passing by or catching the bus.

Call LA Congressional Representatives Now!

Other BRU members equipped with cell phones jumped on the buses to encourage bus riders to make phone calls to their congressmembers to co-sponsor H.R. 2746, a bill in the House introduced by Congressmember Carnahan (MO), that will allow 30-50% of federal transit dollars to be invested into transit operations.

We've generated over a hundred calls and flooded the phones of LA congressional representatives. The event ended at noon with a BRU chant but many BRU members took flyers to continue organizing on their ride home.

Next Steps

BRU delegation will join other TRPT members from all over the country this September and deliver the People's Bus Petition to President Obama and continue advocating to Congress as the overall federal transportation legislation moves through the authorization process this fall.

Stay tuned for updates...

See photos from the Day of Action