The size and budget of RTA's Transit Police Department have ballooned since its inception in the 1970s. In the city of Cleveland, there are many overlapping, redundant law enforcement agencies including RTA Transit Police and Cleveland Metropolitan School District police. Too much of our taxpayer dollars go to fund multiple agencies and officers all tasked with doing the same work, while these overlapping police do little to serve and protect us and our neighbors.

For years, RTA Transit Police have unconstitutionally enforced fares, discriminated against riders of color, and criminalized poverty and homelessness. Meanwhile, little is being done to actually ensure a safe, comfortable, and dignified experience for riders on RTA buses and trains.

As a part of the Abolish the Overlap campaign, Black Spring Cle and Clevelanders for Public Transit are asking RTA and city leaders to defund the Transit Police, decriminalize fare evasion, and implement civilian transit ambassadors. In order to do this, we are collecting stories from riders like you.

Have you had a negative experience with GCRTA Transit Police? Do you agree that fare evasion should not be a criminal offense? Would you like to help improve safety, comfort, and dignity for all RTA passengers? We want to hear your story.