A new feature-length documentary film raises the question of whether public transportation is a civil rights issue.
Mass Transit reports from a statement by the Greater Dayton RTA: "The feature-length documentary 'Free To Ride,' which tells the story of the years-long disagreement between the Greater Dayton RTA and the city of Beavercreek to expand public transportation in the community, will debut Feb. 17 at the Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival."
"The Beavercreek City Council initially blocked RTA’s 2011 proposal to extend its service onto Pentagon Boulevard to access jobs and educational opportunities there," explains the post. "The council’s decision was later challenged by [Leaders for Equality and Action in Dayton] LEAD. Ultimately, the federal government threatened to take back more than $10 million dollars in federal funding if Beavercreek blocked public transportation."
LEAD is also currently involved in an ongoing battle over transit planning in Miami Township, Ohio, over the location of bus stops near the Dayton Mall. The trailer for "Free to Ride," which lays out the stakes of the controversy in Beavercreek, can be played below.
The Official Trailer: Free To Ride from Kirwan Institute on Vimeo.
Read the full story: Documentary Highlighting Dayton RTA Debuts at National Film Festival
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