Transforming Transportation

TRANSFORMING TRANSPORTATION

Zeitgeist has embarked on a transforming transportation journey to connect, educate, and advocate around barriers that persist in our transportation networks. Our mission is to address historic inequities in our transportation infrastructure, structures, and cultures by working creatively with diverse regional coalitions in leveraging change, and by centering those most impacted in visioning the solutions. Our aim is a regional transportation network that’s fully responsive to the needs of all our community members, connecting people to all the resources they need to thrive.

“When people live at the intersection of multiple vectors of oppression, unfettered access to public space and unfettered mobility are not guaranteed, regardless of street design. Racism, sexism, classism, able-ism, xenophobia, homophobia, constraints imposed upon gender-non-conforming folks, and insecurity in the public space resulting from historic disenfranchisement can make it hostile to many. Yet this has seldom been the starting point for envisioning more sustainable transportation. It should be.” —Untokening Mobility

A surplus of abandoned bikes are gathered each month by the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) and Duluth Police Department (DPD). At the same time, road-ready bikes are hard to come by for community members who often have limited transportation options and rely on busing, biking, and walking to get around. The People Powered Bike Project provides refurbished, second hand bicycles to community members who face transportation barriers in the Twin Ports.

Please fill out the form if you’re interested in receiving a free, refurbished bike. We will do our best to match each person with a safe, appropriate bike. However, please note that filling out the interest form does not guarantee that you will be able to receive a bike.

If you have more questions about our program, are interested in donating a bike or volunteering, please contact our Bike Rehab Coordinator, Erin O’Daniel: erin@zeitgeistarts.com

Zeitgeist Community is seeking submissions from community members in Duluth and Superior in the form of original poetry, prose, and visual art that will be featured in our Public Transit Stories Zine to be distributed during Week Without Driving (October 1-8, 2026). Community members of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience are welcome to apply.

SUBMIT YOUR TRANSIT STORY

The Twin Ports Bus Shelter Art Project is a unique effort by the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) and Zeitgeist Center for Arts & Community to spread art across the community, celebrate public transit, and encourage ridership by beautifying bus shelters with original artwork by regional artists. Launched in 2025, the Bus Shelter Art Project aims to continue installing artwork on shelters across the service area until all shelters have been transformed with art. Join the Zeitgeist mailing list to receive updates about open calls for art proposals and to follow the progress of the initiative. Visit the DTA’s website to read about the selected locations and artists. Support the project by sponsoring a bus shelter mural! Email dclark@duluthtransit.com for questions or sponsorship inquiries.

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HELP TRANSFORM TRANSPORTATION!

Learn about local transportation projects in the works along with community groups working on transportation efforts.

Help shape conversations to center historically-marginalized populations in our region’s transportation plans.

Become a champion of transportation equity in our region by getting involved in one or more grassroots efforts.

Reestablishing a central artery as “main street” with attractive, safe, and walkable designs

LONDON ROAD

Addressing traffic flows and adding safety improvements for all users

I-35

Re-envisioning current and future transportation needs – Learn more about potentials for reconnecting communities

HAMMOND AVENUE

Reenvisioning the street as an active corridor with multimodal treatments

W SUPERIOR STREET

Redefining an industrial corridor as a connected, safe place for all

TRANSPORTATION EQUITY RESOURCES

Zeitgeist's Transportation Equity Principles & Vision

Transportation Equity Read/Watch/Listen List

Become an Advocate

US Department of Transportation's Equity Action Plan

Making the Case for Sidewalk Snow Removal

Transportation Zine 2024 (Print)

Transportation Zine 2024 (Digital)

TRANSPORTATION EQUITY BLOG

6th Avenue East Re-Opening: Mayor Reinert’s Remarks

"When I came into office in 2024 I heard about this project right away. And I'll be honest, I heard people who had critiques, who were concerned, who didn't want anything to change. And what was interesting to me is that they weren't people who live in that...

Transit Truths: A Transit Equity Day Event

Transit Truths: A Transit Equity Day Event Tiffany Fenner presenting her original artwork on the DTA bus.Community members making Transit Equity Day artwork."Empathy Rides the Bus" artwork by DASH [Denfeld After School Happenings] students.DASH students MCing Transit...

Voices from BIPOC Outdoors

Voices from BIPOC Outdoors On March 28, 2024, as part of our Transportation Equity Doc & Talk screening of Emily Ford’s A Voice for the Wild, Zeitgeist hosted a panel talk with organizers from BIPOC Outdoors Twin Ports and Twin Cities: Sam Armacost, Cory Maria...

Building at the Human Scale / Reversing Redlining

I-35 (image from the Duluth Waterfront Collective) Karl Schuettler, Duluth economic development advisor says the legacy of redlining in Duluth endures. “Every one of the neighborhoods given a description about immigrants or African-Americans in the 1930s remains...

Duluth’s Mobility Justice Leaders

(paintings from left to right by Sylvia Houle and Micheal Matthews) In her new companion book to Biking While Black called Reimagine: A Roadmap to Justice and Joy (what she calls “the Green Book on steroids”), filmmaker and mobility justice activist Yolanda...

A Week Without Driving: Reflections from Duluth City Councilor Gary Anderson

My Week Without Driving experience was really impactful for me. First off, the organizing around the event inspired me to do something I've said I wanted to do for at least 5 years – I got on an eBike for the very first time! And, not just one bike but I got to try...

Comments on Transportation Equity from Carl Sack

Michael Moore’s film Roger & Me shows the harsh truth about the demolition of living standards that the American working class was subjected to during the retrenchment of global capital in the 1980s and 90s. This was a time when industrial production had saturated...

Reflections from Straight Line Crazy

We kicked off our Transportation Equity Doc & Talk series in May with the filmed play Straight Line Crazy about the life and legacy of Robert Moses. During our community conversation, we asked a few questions about how issues in the film reflected those in our...