Editor’s Note: Citilink’s Transit Equity Day 2025 festivities will be held tomorrow at 10:30 AM at the Forum at Electric Works. This event is open to the public and all are welcome! To learn more about the event and register, please click the following link: Transit Equity Day 2025.
Now, please continue and read about what transit equity means to Citilink’s Marketing and Development Director, Casey Claypool, and how you can help link people to life.
Honoring Rosa Parks on Transit Equity Day: A Seat Reserved for Change
On February 4, 2025, Citilink will honor Transit Equity Day by reserving a seat on our buses—the same kind of seat Rosa Parks refused to give up in 1955. A special sign, featuring her image and the phrase Equity in Every Ride, will mark this seat.
This seat is more than just a tribute. It’s a reminder that transit equity is about more than a bus—it’s about linking people to life. It’s about ensuring that every person has the freedom to move, to access opportunity, and to be treated with dignity.
A Simple Request: Honor This Seat
We ask all riders to respect this reserved seat and leave it open throughout the day in honor of Rosa Parks. By keeping this seat open, we acknowledge the sacrifices made for civil rights and recognize that the fight for equitable transit is not over.
Transit is More Than a Bus—It’s Opportunity
Growing up in a small town without public transit, I never had to think about what it meant to catch a bus—or what it meant to not be able to. I had the privilege of walking to band practice and my after-school job. But what if I hadn’t? Would I have missed out on the experiences that shaped my future?
It wasn’t until I began working with nonprofits that I truly saw how transportation can be the deciding factor between opportunity and struggle. A respected community leader once told me:
“Public transit exists so that people can give what they have to offer.”
That phrase stays with me because it’s true: Transit is more than a bus. It’s a pathway to education, jobs, healthcare, and independence.
A Threat to Transit Equity in Our Community
Right now, Greater Fort Wayne faces a 14% service reduction, which could eliminate 300,000 rides per year and pull $12 million from our local economy. That’s not just a financial loss—it’s a loss of jobs, education, and access to essential services for thousands of people.
That’s why we’re launching the Equity in Every Ride Smart Card, funded by the AWS Foundation. Featuring Rosa Parks’ image, these cards will be distributed through local nonprofits to provide free smartcards so that their clients may access discounted rides. Because no one should have to choose between getting to work and putting food on the table.
How You Can Help Link People to Life
- Respect the Reserved Seat – Take a moment to reflect on Rosa Parks’ legacy.
- Advocate for Transit Funding – Speak up to protect essential routes.
- Ride the Bus – Show your support by choosing public transit when possible.
- Stay Engaged – Visit fwcitilink.com/join-us to learn how you can help.
A Personal Commitment
There was a time when I wasn’t thinking about transit equity. Now, I see how public transit connects people to life-changing opportunities—and I’m committed to advocating for a system that works for everyone.
Transit Equity Day isn’t just about remembering Rosa Parks—it’s about continuing the work she started. Let’s ensure “equity in every ride” isn’t just a slogan but a reality for all.
Because public transit is more than a bus—it’s how we link people to life.
Marketing & Development Director
Citilink
