In 1955, Rosa Parks was riding home on public transit when she refused to give up her seat in the front of the bus. The actions of the 42-year-old activist invigorated the movement for equality and played a crucial role in desegregating public transit.
In honor of Rosa Parks’ birthday, and all she stood for, North County Transit – San Diego Railroad (NCTD) is joining other public transportation agencies around the country in recognizing Feb. 4, 2026, as “Transit Equity Day” by offering free rides.
“Rosa Parks’ courage was integral to advancing the fight for Civil Rights in our country,” said NCTD Chief Executive Officer Shawn M. Donaghy. “NCTD honors her life by working every day to ensure the right to equal access for all on public transit.”
AP Photo/Gene Herrick, FileAP Photo/Gene Herrick, File
FILE – Rosa Parks is fingerprinted by police Lt. D.H. Lackey in Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 22, 1956, two months after refusing to give up her seat on a bus for a white passenger on Dec. 1, 1955. The quest by a civil rights pioneer to have her arrest record wiped clean after nearly 70 years after she protested racial segregation has raised the possibility of similar bids to clear the names of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., whose convictions remain on the books in Alabama’s capital. (AP Photo/Gene Herrick, File)
Transit Equity Day was first celebrated in select areas of the nation in 2018. In 2026, NCTD marks its fourth year participating in Transit Equity Day.
Riders can use all NCTD modes – COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE, FLEX, NCTD+ and LIFT – free of charge for the entire day on Feb. 4. For those traveling on NCTD+ within the San Marcos and Vista micro transit zones, customers can use promo code: ROSAPARKS in the NCTD+ app for free rides.
Free rides apply to NCTD modes of transportation only and are not applicable on San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) or Amtrak through the Rail2Rail program.
NCTDNCTD
To commemorate Rosa Parks’ birthday, free rides will be offered on all NCTD modes including COASTER, BREEZE, SPRINTER, FLEX and LIFT on Wednesday, February 4. (North County Transit District)