As service industry workers, we often find ourselves working well beyond conventional hours, when safe, reliable transportation is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity. For many of us, rideshare services provided through WMATA’s After-Hours Commuter Service Program have been a lifeline, ensuring we get home safely after late shifts. But with their recent changes to bus schedules, this essential program is going to be eliminated, leaving many of us without safe, reliable options. 

While the extended bus hours may help some, they don’t meet the needs of all workers, and they do nothing to address the real and ongoing safety concerns we face in our community. As night workers, we are especially vulnerable to violence and robbery. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), those of us in the service industry who work late are at a significantly higher risk of assault and robbery. And yet, WMATA is currently offering only limited transportation options during these high-risk hours.

We urgently need WMATA to reconsider their decision and restore the ride-share partnership. This program is more than just a matter of convenience—it’s about our safety. By continuing this partnership, WMATA can offer night workers like us a safer way to get home, reducing the risks we face on late-night commutes.

Please support your local service industry workers by signing this petition. Together, we can ensure that all late-night workers have access to safe, reliable transportation.