Three members reflect on a decade of rider organizing
Did you know that Riders Alliance is celebrating a decade of rider organizing for better public transit this year?
To mark this milestone, we wanted to take a short ride down memory lane with three members of our amazing community: grassroots and sustaining member Kevin Ritter; staff member Danna Dennis, and board member Tolani Adeboye.
We asked Kevin, Danna, and Tolani five questions: 1) how they got involved with Riders Alliance, 2) what’s their favorite memory from the last ten years, 3) why transit matters to them right now, 4) what they’re excited about for the future of our movement. Oh, and 5) will we see them at the best party for public transit in town (the big gala)? (Spoiler alert: they all said yes!)
Their words are a reminder of what we have and will continue to build at Riders Alliance: a belief that riders deserve a say in the decisions that impact us; a community of like-minded, passionate, and fun people; and a greater movement that centers the role public transit plays in delivering a more just and sustainable New York. And, we’re doing it together. One flyer, one sign, one rally, one win at a time.
These conversations made us all so excited to celebrate Riders Alliance’s 10th anniversary with you on October 3. It’s been one amazing ride so far, but we know the best is yet to come.
Until then, happy reading!
How did you get involved with Riders Alliance?
Kevin: I got involved after I attended a talk where they discussed their work to get affordable LIRR tickets for rides taken within city limits. At that time, I was commuting between Marble Hill and the Financial District, and I saw the value in organizing together for more frequent, affordable transit service.
Danna: I joined as a member and volunteered for a few years before I joined the staff as a full-time organizer. I first heard about Riders Alliance as a frustrated rider trying to transfer at the Ralph Ave C station. I’d been sitting there waiting a long time for a C train to transfer to the A train. A trains kept passing me by, but no C trains. I found a Riders Alliance flyer on a bench at the station and was intrigued enough to sign up. This is why –still to this day– I really believe in the power of a flyer. I got called two or three times to come out to a community meeting in Bed-Stuy. Somewhere around the third call, it piqued my interest. I got invited to a rally with a 60’s theme with Council Member Cornegy. It sounded fun, certainly gimmicky enough, and it was local so I could walk there. I went and it was this big group of people. I figured, let’s see what these people are about!
Tolani: It all started way back in 2012 as I stood on the G train platform at Bedford-Nostrand. The G train was running in sections during the weekend for the umpteenth time in support of "track work" with no end in sight or accountability. I was frustrated and delayed and I didn't know what to do. I spotted a flyer for an organizing meeting to improve the G train and I was immediately intrigued. My first meeting was in Williamsburg in September. It was packed and exciting. There was incredible energy in the room, a dynamic organizer, and lots of great ideas – including making a YouTube video on the trials of using the G train. I was hooked. I felt empowered to make a difference instead of just complaining and I found a community of like-minded New Yorkers. The G train was my first campaign, but it certainly wasn't my last. I've been on the streets and platforms organizing for Superstorm Sandy recovery, Transit Benefits, Fair Fares, Congestion Pricing, Better Buses, and better, more reliable service.
What’s your favorite memory from the last ten years?
Kevin: A real joy of my time as a member of Riders Alliance has been the sign-making gatherings. It's a really nice feeling to gather with people who also care about public transit in New York City, whip out some markers and paper, and get ready for our upcoming events, press conferences, and rallies.
Danna: So. Many. Things. One favorite memory is the energy in the office after the Fair Fares win. It was the most natural high. It felt so good. That was my favorite thing ever. And, as much as a win is an obvious feel good, I will also say that I cherish all of the small victories along the way. The little turnovers that got to the big wins. With Fair Fares, that was getting the overwhelming City Council support on the campaign, having the Speaker come out in support while we were still waiting on the Mayor, the days when we would totally pack the room.
Tolani: I'm not big on the great outdoors but our dramatic reading of Subway Horror Stories in front of the governor's Manhattan office complete with fake campfire is a treasured memory. Collecting the stories was incredible. We solicited the voices of our fellow New Yorkers at a real low point for subway service and what they shared was infuriating and powerful. And often we had to laugh to keep from crying. I attended community gatherings and stopped folks on the streets and platforms to gather stories. It was a powerful experience for me to connect firsthand with riders and I was touched by how so many shared so generously. Putting it all together and making a fun spectacle of it was the icing on the cake. We got attention from the press, new members, and actual responses from the MTA.
Why does transit matter to you right now?
Kevin: As a commuter, I've noticed that while ridership has been coming back after nearly two-and-a-half years of the COVID-19 pandemic, in many ways service has not: it's not unusual for me to see wait times of 15-20 minutes, and sometimes more! Wherever I'm going, whether it's to my customer service job in Downtown Brooklyn, to visit friends in Park Slope, or to my church in Midtown, unreliable service means that I have to leave earlier and waste time. For the millions of New Yorkers that rely on transit to get to their jobs and go about their lives, frequent service would be a major improvement in quality of life.
Danna: We’re in a moment right now where there is a split in our city. One group has the privilege to not have to get back on transit or to not have to rely on it as an everyday part of their commute. The other group is made up of the individuals, the workers, the riders who have had to ride throughout the entire pandemic. They’ve had to get out of bed at different hours, pivot with the shifts in what rush hour looks like and navigate new schedules, deal with extreme weather, get out there and take on transit and its problems on top of everything else. It feels really important to fight for those folks. They aren’t the forgotten riders, even if people aren’t talking about them as much. How do we continue to stand up for them?
Tolani: Community and adaptability. Buses and trains are community spaces! After two years of some version of lockdown, transit has returned as a space for me to reconnect with my city - its people and its vibrancy. That a rich cross-section of New Yorkers negotiate time, share, and each other on our buses and subways has been such a source of cohesion for NYC. I'm enjoying seeing my neighbors new and old as I commute to work, visit friends, and attend events again. Yes, the city has changed. Riding transit is one of the ways that I process those changes and I don't think I'm alone on that one. I also appreciate how I've been able to adapt my transit use to fit my life. Pre-lockdown, I was a subway devotee, but now, you're even more likely to find me on the B38 than on my beloved G train.
What are you excited about for the future of our rider movement?
Kevin: I'm really excited to continue working together on our shared goals, and seeing Riders Alliance continue to develop its voice and advocacy over the next ten years!
Danna: I’m excited about the opportunities that come with new administrations at the city and state level. It’s a moment to energize and motivate riders about why we continue to fight. We have the chance right now to shore up alliances and create new relationships. It is certainly a moment to expand campaigns like Fair Fares and go into the final stretch for campaigns like congestion pricing. There is absolutely a lot of work to be done, but we have a strong team at Riders Alliance. We have an amazing staff that is working better than ever. We put a lot of new systems in place over last year. All of that collectively means that the upcoming campaigns are just going to be great.
Tolani: New faces and sustainability. One of the key goals of Riders Alliance has always been to build a strong constituency for transit that would hold elected officials accountable and ceaselessly advocate. We've been very successful at doing just that! To continue to build on our success, we'll need fresh faces with fresh ideas about what matters most to transit riders today. And we will need to support members, new and old, with an organizing infrastructure and strategies that strengthens and amplifies their voices. Riders Alliance is all about the people power. I'm so grateful that we're engaging in a summer of organizing and have continued to strengthen our amazing staff so that we can be in this fight for the long haul.
Will we see you at the best party for public transit, our big 10th anniversary gala on October 3?
Kevin: Is this really a question? Of course I'll be there!
Danna: Oh gosh. Now that just made me think about what I’m going to wear. Yes, I’ll be there! And I guess I just need to start getting my dress ready. I can’t wait.
Tolani: Absolutely, with bells on. Actual bells.