RIDE New Orleans

Ride New Orleans is a transit rider advocacy organization. Our vision is a New Orleans region in which taking transit - by necessity or choice - enables full access to jobs, education, health care, and other needs that ensure the equitable, thriving community that all residents deserve. RIDE aims to improve the quality of life in our region by promoting safe, reliable, convenient, and affordable transportation choices. We accomplish this through (1) grassroots organizing to uplift the rider voice, (2) targeted campaigns to win measurable and equitable transit improvements, and (3) driving regional transit conversations with publications based on original analysis and policy research.

It's been nearly 20 years since the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Katrina, and pockets of the city and region are experiencing rapid growth and wealth creation. However, many services still lag in New Orleans, and lower-income and historically disadvantaged local residents face obstacles that diminish their access to opportunity. Access to frequent and reliable transit is one of those obstacles.

An analysis of regional job accessibility via transit and via a car clearly illustrates this point. The average New Orleanian with a car can access 89 percent of the region's jobs in 30 minutes or less. If the same New Orleanian relies on transit, she can access only 12 percent of the region's jobs in the same 30-minute period. In a city with both a high poverty rate and a high carlessness rate, that is unacceptable.

Current Projects:

• The Opportunity Pass Program provides free, unlimited transit rides for Orleans Parish youth ages 16–24, and has over 8,200 young people enrolled

• Complete Streets collaboration with city, agency, and community partners works to ensure that critical infrastructure needs (including sidewalks, lighting, drainage, and stop amenities) are addressed efficiently, ensuring riders of all ages and abilities can travel safely

• Transit Funding advocacy to secure sustainable, dedicated funding for reliable service, learn more

• Youth and Senior Transit Literacy Workshops help riders navigate the system confidently

• The 2025 Hotel Worker Transportation Survey focuses on the transit needs of this essential workforce and policy recommendations

• Policy Research and Reporting, such as our annual, comprehensive State of Transit Report, provides critical analysis of the needs of our City and region

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Testimonials

"Thousands of New Orleanians rely on transit daily, but the system is not equitable, and the needs of riders are not prioritized. Lack of communication, missing signage, unreliable schedules, and long waits create a confusing and time-consuming experience. For those of us in the hospitality and service industries, one missed bus can mean losing our jobs. RIDE advocates on behalf of riders, giving us a voice in the decision-making process and an opportunity to create a more equitable and reliable transit system. " - Tim, a local transit rider