Honoring Transit Equity Day: Why Accessible Transportation Matters for Seniors and Communities

February 4 is Transit Equity Day, a time to honor the legacy of Rosa Parks and highlight the ongoing fight for equitable, accessible, and affordable public transportation for all. It’s a reminder that transportation is more than a convenience — it’s a civil right that shapes access to opportunity, independence, and community life. Across the region, public transit agencies, aging support networks, and community partners work together to help older adults and people with disabilities stay connected to vital services and vibrant community life.

Cleveland’s Role in the Transit Equity Movement

Cleveland has long been part of the national movement advocating for equal access to transportation. During the 1970s and 1980s, disability rights activists across the country pushed for transit systems that served everyone, including people with mobility challenges. In April 1985, that fight came to Public Square in downtown Cleveland. A group of disability rights activists, many of them wheelchair users, surrounded two RTA buses and demanded equal access to public transit. At the time, buses were not wheelchair-accessible, effectively excluding many residents from using public transportation. The protest led to immediate action. RTA agreed to make its buses accessible, and over the following years, wheelchair lifts and other features were added to the fleet. These changes opened public transportation to riders who had previously been left behind. Activists framed their demands not just as a transit issue, but as a civil rights issue, calling for full participation in public life. That perspective helped influence national policy and laid the groundwork for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

How the ADA Transformed Transit

Signed into law in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reshaped how U.S. transit systems serve riders with disabilities. It requires public transit agencies to provide:

- Accessible buses and rail vehicles with lifts or level boarding

- Accessible stations

- Complementary paratransit services

These changes expanded access to work, education, healthcare, and civic life for millions of people. They also advanced universal design features, such as audio and visual stop announcements, that benefit all riders.

Why Transit Equity Matters for Seniors

For older adults and people with disabilities, transportation isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about independence, dignity, and staying connected to the people and places that matter — including visits to local senior programs, centers, and community services. As people age, the ability to drive often changes due to health, vision, or mobility challenges. Without accessible transportation options, everyday pursuits — like doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, or social outings — can become difficult or even impossible. Transit equity means recognizing these barriers and actively working to remove them. It ensures older adults are not left behind simply because traditional transportation systems weren’t designed with their needs in mind. When transportation is equitable, seniors can remain active participants in their communities instead of feeling isolated or dependent.

What Equitable Transportation Looks Like for Older Adults

True transit equity includes:

- Accessible vehicles that accommodate mobility devices and physical limitations

- Affordable fares that respect fixed or limited incomes

- Transportation that meets people where they are, no matter their address.

- Community-based solutions that connect riders to senior centers, community centers, public agencies, and essential services

Local resources play a key role. Partners like the City of Cleveland Department of Aging, Cuyahoga County Division of Senior & Adult Services, Community Partnership on Aging, Rose Centers for Aging Well, and Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging offer vital support for older residents.

Our Commitment at STC

At Senior Transportation Connection (STC), transit equity isn’t just a concept — it’s at the heart of what we do. We work alongside participating communities and organizations such as Cuyahoga County, City of Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, and local aging support networks to ensure older adults have access to safe, affordable transportation. Every ride we provide is a step toward a more inclusive community where older adultscan age with dignity and choice. On Transit Equity Day, we reaffirm our commitment to removing transportation barriers and advocating for systems that work for everyone — especially those who need them most.

How You Can Support Transit Equity

You can help advance transit equity by:

- Asking community members for feedback on what they need and advocating for accessible and inclusive transportation in your community

- Supporting organizations that provide senior and medical transportation services

- Helping older neighbors or family members access resources from partners like Community Partnership on Aging and the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

- Sharing information about local senior centers and community resources with those who may not know help is available

Together, we can create a future where mobility is a right, not a privilege — because when seniors can move freely, communities thrive.

📌 Helpful Cleveland Transit & Senior Resources

Transportation & Mobility

Senior Transportation Connection (STC) – Accessible rides for seniors and adults with disabilities in Cuyahoga County: https://www.ridestc.org/

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) – Local public transit and paratransit service for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County: https://www.riderta.com/

Aging & Support Services

City of Cleveland Department of Aging – https://www.clevelandohio.gov/city-hall/departments/aging

Cuyahoga County Division of Senior & Adult Services (DSAS) – Resources and support for older adults and adults with disabilities: https://hhs.cuyahogacounty.gov/departments/dsas/about-dsas

Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) – Aging services and coordination for Cuyahoga and surrounding counties: https://www.areaagingsolutions.org/

Community Programs & Senior Centers

Community Partnership on Aging – Congregate meals, outreach, transportation links, and supportive services: https://www.communitypartnershiponaging.org/

City of Cleveland Senior Centers & Aging Resources – Information on senior center locations, programs, and support: https://www.clevelandohio.gov/city-hall/departments/aging/community-partners

Rose Center for Aging Well – A network of senior centers operated by the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging that offers older adults in the Cleveland area opportunities to socialize, learn, stay active, and access essential services. https://www.benrose.org

STC Participating Communities & Organizations

Please visit our website to see if your community, or your loved ones’ community partners with STC. You can contact STC’s Call Center for details, (216) 265-1489.