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Transit advocate donates winter essentials. He could use your help

December 10, 2025

Michael Cunningham, a Detroit transit activist who experienced homelessness for a decade, advocates for improved bus services by inviting political leaders to ride public transportation and operating a private taxi van. He distributes donated winter supplies like hand warmers to bus riders throughout the city, funding these efforts entirely through public donations via platforms like Patreon and Cash App. During a ride-along, conversations with residents revealed widespread dissatisfaction with unreliable bus service and low voter participation among transit users.

Who is affected

  • Michael Cunningham (transit activist and former homeless individual)
  • Detroit bus riders and transit users
  • Unhoused/homeless residents in Detroit
  • Tawana Towles (resident whose van broke down, now reliant on buses)
  • Towles' granddaughter
  • Anthony Moore (formerly homeless for two decades)
  • DDOT bus drivers and mechanics
  • 2026 Michigan gubernatorial candidates (targeted for advocacy)

What action is being taken

  • Cunningham is regularly distributing donated hand warmers and winter gear to bus riders across Detroit
  • Cunningham is operating a private taxi van service
  • Cunningham is inviting public officials and political candidates to ride city buses
  • Residents are hiring Cunningham's taxi service due to unreliable bus transportation
  • DDOT is adding new bus shelters, replacing aging shelters, and increasing route frequency

Why it matters

  • This matters because Detroit's unreliable bus system disproportionately affects low-income residents who lack transportation alternatives, creating barriers to accessing jobs, schools, and essential services. The situation reveals a cycle where transit-dependent residents feel politically marginalized and don't vote, leading politicians to deprioritize their needs. The issue also highlights broader inequities where downtown development displaces vulnerable populations without providing adequate services or shelter, leaving homeless individuals without protection during dangerous winter conditions.

What's next

  • Cunningham's goal is to bring all 2026 Michigan gubernatorial candidates on city buses
  • Transit activists aim to double the DDOT budget in the future

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com