ANN ARBOR, MI – The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) is honoring Rosa Parks this Transit Equity Day, Tuesday, February 4, by reserving a seat on each of its buses. The reserved seat symbolizes the courageous actions of Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on December 1, 1955. This act of protest, which led to her arrest, sparked the Montgomery bus boycott and resulted in the ruling that segregation on buses was unconstitutional.

“While Transit Equity Day is observed annually; this year commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott and 20 years since Ms. Parks’ passing,” Jeff Pfeifer, Manager of Public Affairs and Community Engagement said. “Ms. Parks’ actions were monumental in making transportation more equitable for all, and we want to honor the transformative impact she had on people across the country.”

A reserved seat will be found on each of TheRide’s buses on Tuesday, February 4. TheRide asks riders to respect the reserved seat and join us in honoring Rosa Parks. 


The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a not-for-profit unit of government. TheRide operates the local public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, enabling the area’s residents to reach their destinations at reasonable cost, and offers the region efficient, environmentally sound transportation alternatives. For more information, please visit TheRide.org. 

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