APPLETON, Wis. (Feb. 02, 2023) – Valley Transit, the public transportation service in the Fox Cities, is celebrating everyone’s right to public transportation in honor of Transit Equity Day. Valley Transit, in partnership with the City of Appleton, which through a proclamation is honoring Transit Equity Day, is encouraging residents to take the bus on Friday, February 3.
Transit Equity Day honors the birthday of Rosa Parks, the Black woman who refused to give up her seat on a public bus during the civil rights movement.
“Valley Transit is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values diversity and understanding every day,” said Ron McDonald, Valley Transit general manager. “Transit Equity Day and the City’s proclamation to observe this day are an avenue for us to bring further awareness to the work that we do 365 days a year to ensure safe, reliable transportation.”
Approximately 54 percent of rides provided by Valley Transit are employment based, making public transportation a vital service for the Fox Cities area. Nationwide, public transportation is crucial to the economic, social and environmental well-being of communities.
City of Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford plans to celebrate Transit Equity Day by riding Valley Transit from his home to City Hall on the morning of Friday, February 3.
“The importance of reliable public transit cannot be overstated – not only does it provide access to employment, education and healthcare for those who may have difficulty accessing or affording them otherwise, but it also connects people with each other and brings us closer as a community,” said Mayor Woodford.
Valley Transit provides free training to anyone looking to learn to ride the bus. Training is customized to meet individuals’ specific travel needs. Areas covered in the travel training program include:
- Basic Valley Transit education
- Accessibility
- Rules & etiquette
- Bus & street safety
- Trip preparedness
- System and trip planning tools
For additional information on the Valley Transit Travel Training program, or to sign up, visit myvalleytransit.com/travel-training/.
To learn more about Valley Transit, and the many ways it is providing safe, reliable and equitable service to the Fox Valley, visit myvalleytransit.com/.