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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From the Regional Transportation District:
1660 Blake Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: 720.326.7311
Email: [email protected]
RTD to offer zero-fare rides and commemorate Rosa Parks for Transit Equity Day tomorrow
Customers can ride RTD services at no cost as the agency honors Parks’ legacy with systemwide seat signage recognizing transit equity
DENVER (Feb. 3, 2026) — The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will offer zero-fare service systemwide tomorrow, Feb. 4, temporarily removing fare costs for customers in observance of Transit Equity Day and honoring the legacy of civil rights leader Rosa Parks.
As part of this year’s observance, RTD will also install commemorative seat signage on buses systemwide to recognize Parks’ role in advancing transit equity and to reflect on the enduring importance of inclusion in public transportation. The signage is symbolic and intended to raise awareness of transit’s historic role in the Civil Rights Movement and its continued importance as a public good. The signage’s placement is tailored to each bus model and will not block access to seating.
Transit Equity Day is observed annually on Parks’ birthday in recognition of public transit as a civil right and a critical pathway to opportunity. On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an act that helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement and launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott and peaceful protests, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., lasted 381 days and led to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in November 1956 deeming segregation on public buses unconstitutional.
Parks’ dignified refusal made her a symbol of the fight for civil rights, eventually earning Parks the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996. Her courage continues to shape conversations about access, equality, and mobility in communities across the nation.
“Public transportation stands as a cornerstone of equity, connecting individuals to the resources and opportunities that shape their futures. Transit is more than infrastructure – it is a pathway to education, employment, health care, and community engagement that holds room for all,” said General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “RTD recognizes that mobility is fundamental to dignity and self-determination and removes barriers to access. All people deserve the freedom to pursue their aspirations, contribute to civic life, and navigate their communities with independence.”
RTD’s Board of Directors first authorized zero-fare service on Transit Equity Day on Dec. 3, 2024, as a permanent annual initiative, emphasizing the agency’s long-term commitment to advancing transit equity. The observance also aligns with national efforts led by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which first recognized Transit Equity Day in 2021.
On Feb. 4, customers are encouraged to ride RTD bus and rail, as well as FlexRide and Access-a-Ride services, at no cost throughout the day. Fare will also be waived for Access-on-Demand trips, though customers are responsible for any portion of a trip that exceeds the $20 per-trip subsidy.
For more information about Transit Equity Day and RTD services, visit rtd-denver.com.
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