Who Are our Transit Ambassadors?

RVA RT Transit Ambassadors have supercharged our capacity for advocacy. Wearing many hats, their work includes (but is not limited to!) meeting and developing relationships with bus riders, facilitating programs like Mobility University, creating media content and authoring transit reports that are as visually stunning and easy-to-understand as they are informative.

"Now that we have our Transit Ambassadors, our community building and relationships with bus riders have really blossomed."
-Richard Hankins, RVA RT Programs & Communications Director

What do the Transit Ambassadors do?

Outreach: Showing up at various bus stops to engage riders directly, Transit Ambassadors listen to and record rider stories and comments. We pass out cold drinks and invite folks to our upcoming events and share info on GRTC meetings and surveys. Hosting events with free delicious food and dope playlists, we strive to create a welcoming environment where we can build relationships and foster community. We keep in touch with our riders and supporters, sharing essential transit-planning news, nurturing sustained partnerships.

Elevating The Riders’ Voice: Transit Ambassadors help fulfill one of RVA RT’s main goals, bringing rider voices directly to transit planners and decision makers. For riders who otherwise couldn’t, we submit their comments directly to GRTC Board Members. We create Riders Voice stories for our social media and YouTube channels, amplifying their voice and spreading awareness within our online community.

Research: Pulling data from sources such as the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation and news articles across the region & US, we create reports and visualizations that bolster our mission and back riders’ stories with facts. We utilize Geographic Information Systems to transform numbers into information on a map; some examples include representing population density and the percentage of poverty across the Greater Richmond Region and the corresponding access to transit. Incorporating Rider’s Voice stories within the lines of data emphasizes the person-based approach we take to research, acknowledging that each policy recommendation comes from a place of advocacy and justice. We also take infrared photos at bus stops, showing how hot it gets waiting at a stop without a shelter.

A message from the Executive Director, Faith Walker

[Video of Faith coming]

Transit Ambassador Accomplishments

Recruit riders to enroll in Mobility University
Hosted the five-week course Mobility University, May 2023 with 19 graduates
- Preparing for next cohort in September 2023
Graduates are riders and other community members who have an interest in advocacy and public transit
Researched and published 2023 State of Transit Report & Zero-Fare Report (check out link HERE)
Hosted State of Transit Reception with more than 120 guests from various backgrounds including local non-profits, GRTC officials, bus riders and elected representatives
Hosted 2 Riders + Advocates Connect Lunches, a quarterly offering that, since hiring ambassadors, has tripled its attendance.
Since February, connected with 805 bus riders and interviewed 265 to share their stories on our social media, YouTube, and at GRTC board meetings
Correspond with Mobility University graduates afterwards to keep them up-to-date with transit-related news in Richmond
Assist with monthly Transit Talk online seminars

Bus Rider Testimonials

Hear from Mobility University Spring 2023 graduates Anthony Ford and Wayde Fleming on their respective experiences with our Transit Ambassadors and our advocacy programs.

Thank you for supporting our Transit Ambassadors and our work. Your donation supports our vision of dignified, equitable access to public transit across the Richmond region. Stay connected and we hope to see you soon, at a bus stop or at one of our events!

Support Our Transit Ambassadors

By RVA Rapid Transit

Support Our Transit Ambassadors

Funds for our Transit Ambassadors are thinning - help us keep these invaluable team members!