How we get from Point A to Point B without going broke is becoming the discussion of choice. Especially as gas prices climb ever higher. Transportation Riders United (commonly known as TRU) is making moves to bring that debate front and center to Metro Detroit this summer through a series of meetings, letter writing campaigns and rallies.
The main component will be the rallies. TRU is partnering with a number of other local organizations, such as MOSES, to hold a series of public transit events in each of the tri counties. The first will be held in Oakland County at 7 p.m. Monday in the Temple Emanu-El, 14450 W. 10 Mile Road, in Oak Park.
The idea is to send a strong statement about the importance of public transit and how transportation alternatives are vital to the region's economic future. Another meeting is set for Macomb County on June 30 and one for Wayne County is still being organized for later this summer.
TRU will also host a "Dump the Pump" event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 19 in Cadillac Square (next to Campus Martius) in downtown Detroit. The event, which also features a number of other local transit agencies, will help illustrate what transit options are available and how best to avoid shelling out your life savings on skyrocketing gas prices.
TRU is asking local residents to start applying more pressure on local leaders to develop better public transit options. The organization is requesting that its members and those who care about things like better bus service, light rail and bike paths to call, write and email their local officials and legislators and tell them why they are important.
The "Lead the Leaders" program is designed to help get local leaders to stop talking about improving transit options and actually do something to improve it. TRU has partnered with ProgressMichigan to create www.FundMiTransit.com. The website lets its users send a message to their state legislators about the importance of investing in transit and helps them articulate why they care.
TRU is also hosting a transit happy hour today at Foran’s Irish Pub on Woodward just south of Campus Martius to chat about how gas prices could change transit. The meeting is between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
For information on any of these initiatives, send an email to trumember@detroittransit.org or call (313) 963-8872.
Source: Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United
Writer: Jon Zemke
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