VIA joins transit agencies and cities nationwide in designating a day of remembrance for Parks, who on Dec. 1, 1955, was arrested when she refused to give up her bus seat to make room for a white passenger. Her bravery inspired Civil Rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to organize a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, which lasted several months and was successful in efforts to desegregate U.S. public transportation.  

The VIA Board of Trustees approved a resolution in 2019 to observe and commemorate Parks’ contributions and the role of transit in the American Civil Rights movement each December. This year, customers can ride fare free on Thursday, Dec. 1 — the 67^thanniversary of Parks’ protest. VIA buses and vans will also keep their headlights on throughout the day to honor Parks’ memory. 

The complimentary service extends to all bus, VIAtrans, and VIA Link trips. VIAtrans customers must book their trips in advance, per usual. 

VIA commemorates Rosa Parks and the role of public transportation in the modern Civil Rights movement. VIA’s Rosa Parks Seat Program debuted in 2005 and is designed to educate and engage riders about the history and contributions of the civil rights icon. An engraved seat dedicated to Parks’ memory is placed in each of VIA’s 500-plus buses. The bright yellow seat is installed in the front portion of each bus, below a sign that describes Parks’ protest.

Visitors can plan a trip on VIA, using the convenient online trip planner at VIAinfo.net, the free app goMobile+, or by calling the Go Line at (210) 362-2020.  

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About VIA Metropolitan Transit

VIA provides safe, reliable transportation options that put opportunity within reach for millions of passengers each year. VIA began operation in 1978 and today serves 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, operating seven days a week on 77 routes, with complementing VIAtrans paratransit service and VIA Link on-demand options. VIA’s family of services help connect our community, support economic vitality, and enhance quality of life throughout the region. In 2020, voters approved funding for VIA’s Keep SA Moving plan, in support of projects designed for a modern mass transit system in San Antonio and Bexar County. Visit VIAinfo.net for more information. Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.