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Share your Zero Fare story and complete the online survey.

 

Attend the Albuquerque Bus Riders Union monthly and online meetings on the fourth Fridays of each month from 4:00-5:30pm on Zoom at bit.ly/abru2024. Email info@togetherforbrothers.org for more info.

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What happened with Zero Fares? In May 2021, and again in September 2021, the Albuquerque City Council approved $3 million for "free transit" or Zero Fares for January 2- December 31, 2022. While the city previously approved free fares for limited populations, this vote made Zero Fares available for everyone in the city of Albuquerque, eliminating barriers to transit access for all buses with ART and ABQ Ride as well as Sun Vans.

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The city council "extended" Zero Fares in May 2022 with the FY23 budget through June 2023. And after organizing to defeat a "bad bill" to end Zero Fares O-22-47 extends Zero Fares as well as funding, reporting and security through September 2023.

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Why #ZeroFares Are Important: ABQ Ride reports that: 74% of riders are low income; 73% of riders either don’t have a vehicle or their vehicle isn’t working;  and vast majority of riders are people of color. Zero Fares are about equity (people most impacted getting what they need) and racial justice (addressing historic injustice and disparities based on ethnicity and race) solutions and the right direction for Albuquerque.

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Together for Brothers (T4B) believes the community who are most impacted by a decision should be those who are taking part in making the decision.

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T4B began our journey of lifting up transit equity work in ABQ in the summer of 2017 when we began a Health Impact Assessment to forward policy for a free Universal Youth Bus Pass on ABQ Ride for all young people in ABQ, NM ages 10-18 years old. After organizing for almost four years, WE WON! With the organizing of young men of color and many community partners we reached our original goal but our organizing for transit equity continues.

 

On a national level we've begun participating in organizing efforts with the Labor Network for Sustainability to organize for transit equity and Transit Equity Day actions nationwide.

 

For 2022 Transit Equity Day T4B will be asking Mayor Tim Keller and the city council to include Zero Fares in the FY23 budget. Since 2019, on February 4th or the birthday of Rosa Parks, the mayor has proclaimed Transit Equity Day in the City of Albuquerque - a step in the direction that began with leaders and organizers such as Rosa Parks and the many people of color and allies who have been organizing for decades for racial and social justice. This has included free youth bus passes in summer 2018 and 2019 as well as free bus service on Transit Equity Day each year! In 2021 the mayor announced youth, seniors and veterans would be free moving forward. On November 2023 Zero fares became permanent and on January of 2024 all of City Council signed onto the Transit Equity Day proclamation.

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Thanks again to the City of Albuquerque Office of Equity and Inclusion for all of their support!

 

What can you do? Tell your story about how Zero Fares impact you. Post photos or videos of your bus ride on social media with hashtags (#ZeroFaresABQ, #transitequityABQ or #brothersonthebus) and tag ABQ Ride (@abqride), city council (@abqcitycouncil), mayor (@mayorkeller) and T4B (@togetherforbrothers).

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T4B will keep organizing for transit equity including community participation of those most impacted by lack of access to transit because of frequency or location of public buses and increased funding at the local, state and national levels.