WHO WE ARE

our story

Ride New Orleans (RIDE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 to advocate for world-class, equitable public transportation across the Greater New Orleans region. We envision a region where taking transit—by necessity or by choice—provides full access to jobs, education, health care, and joy, creating the equitable, thriving community New Orleanians deserve.

Our founding board members realized that best practices in transit planning and community involvement were not followed when the city approved a new streetcar line in 2008. Instead of expanding access to jobs and opportunities for lower-income residents, city officials committed substantial funds to a streetcar plan centered on tourism rather than efficient transit designed to benefit everyone.

Recognizing that the needs of lower-income transit riders - many of them dependent solely on transit for mobility - were not being taken into account, our founding board members formed Ride New Orleans to center the voices of the most vulnerable members of our community and bridge the gap between transportation planning and the daily transit rider experience.

Today, RIDE continues that work by organizing alongside riders, conducting community-centered outreach and research, advancing equitable transportation policy, and building partnerships that strengthen public transit across the region. As our city and transit system evolve, we remain committed to ensuring that the people who rely on transit every day are part of the decisions that shape its future.

OUR ETHOS

We strive to include these three core values into all of our initiatives and work at RIDE.

BUILD THE RIDER VOICE

We work directly with riders through our grassroots rider-led organizing arm, the Coalition for Quality Transit, to build a stronger transit rider voice,

Drive the conversation

our reports, white papers, policy briefs, and forums inform residents and local leaders about challenges to overcome and opportunities to improve our transit network.

Win tangible change

Working with riders, elected leaders, transit officials, and many others our targeted campaigns win measurable improvements that make it easier to take transit.

Our Ethos

At RIDE, we strive to include these three core values into all of our initiatives and work.

Build the Rider Voice

We work directly with riders through our grassroots rider-led organizing arm, the Coalition for Quality Transit, to build a stronger transit rider voice.

Drive The Conversation

Our reports, white papers, policy briefs, and forums inform residents and local leaders about challenges to overcome and opportunities to improve our transit network.

Win Tangible Change

Working with riders, elected leaders, transit officials, and many others, our targeted campaigns win measurable improvements that make it easier to take transit.

STAFF