TriMet offering free bus, MAX rides to honor civil rights icon Rosa Parks
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – TriMet announced they will not collect fares for bus or MAX rides on Sunday, Feb. 4 during the agency’s fourth annual tribute to Rosa Parks on what would have been the civil rights icon’s 111th birthday.
In their announcement, TriMet highlighted Parks’ legacy in the Civil Rights Movement — including the day she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama on Dec. 1, 1955.
“Her act of defiance and resulting arrest sparked protests from the streets of Montgomery that inspired change across the United States. Rosa Parks’ brave act became a cornerstone of the civil rights movement and the catalyst for a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court affirming transportation equity as a civil right,” TriMet said.
Salem Police: 3 injured in Fred Meyer parking lot shooting
“As TriMet’s first Black General Manager and a person of African American heritage, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus affects me personally,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “I am humbled and beyond proud to lead an organization that provides a public service where all are welcome. TriMet connects people — all people, no matter the color of their skin or where they came from — with opportunity. Ride with us on Rosa Parks’ birthday and think about how we got here. And give thanks.”
The fourth annual tribute comes after the TriMet Board of Directors passed a resolution in 2020 declaring Parks’ birthday as a day of remembrance.
The resolution was proposed by District 5 Director Keith Edwards, a community activist, who noted “Rosa Parks revealed to the nation the inequities borne from ignorance. She said no more.”
Oregon wrongly mails tax forms to nearly 33,000 people
TriMet said their partners at Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN are also joining the tribute by not collecting fares Feb. 4.
TriMet buses and trains will follow regular Sunday schedules on Feb. 4, TriMet says — noting passengers will not need to scan their Hop cards or purchase a ticket at bus or MAX stations.
Fare collection will resume 3 a.m. Monday, Feb 5.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
