Equal Access to Public Transportation

Organize Sacramento is working on an issue campaign around restoring rider equity and efficiency to the Sacramento Regional Transit system by building and mobilizing a Transit Riders Union consisting of a community coalition, including neighborhood associations, student groups, union affiliates, faith organizations, small business associations, workers’ rights groups, and transit riders. The survey will be used to capture and aggregate data in order to facilitate policy, systems, and organizational change at regional transit. The Transit Riders Union campaign recognizes the need to implement long-term systems change and allows us to work with new or unaware decision makers to support and champion these issues or policy proposals in order to improve the overall health of our transit depended low-income communities.

Inspired by groups like the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union, Portland Transit Riders Union, San Francisco TRU, Milwaukie TRU, and other like groups, the Sacramento Transit Riders Union (Sac TRU) is working to build a long-term program for community involvement and participation in the decisions that affect transit riders. Like the other Unions, we believe public transportation is a human right. We reject any attempts to cut services or hike fares. We strive to work with Sacramento Regional Transit to secure funding and build a truly democratic and sustainable city.

To learn more about what a transit rider's union is, we recommend watching the linked feature-length documentary titled Bus Riders Union (2000) directed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, which captures the early years of organizing in Los Angeles.