THE LIST: We are completely changing our business model.

We’ll get straight to the point: Detroit Bus Co. is changing as we (and you) know it.

Today, we get back to our roots with Futurebus

What is this thing? It’s a new iteration on the Ride for Ride program — our plan to get thousands of students to their field trips after-school programs every day through free and reduced-cost transportation. Currently, we serve Southwest Detroit to provide school children free rides to these programs five days a week.

When we launched The Detroit Bus Co. in 2012, we had a simple goal: fix the broken transportation system in Detroit. We did this through Ride for Ride, our program that provided field trips to students through every bus booked and every ticket sold.

In order to help fund this program, we focused our attention on private bus rentals, weddings, and tours. While being able to be a part of your big events has been rewarding and an honor, we realized we need to hunker down on what matters most: getting Detroit’s students to the transportation they need to keep them engaged. They are our future, after all.

Since last spring through the current school year, we’ve provided free rides to the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, Design Connect, Upward Bound, and Alternatives for Girls, to name a few.

Where do you come in? Odds are you aren’t a student in SW Detroit or run an after-school program — but there’s a real good chance that you or someone you know works for a school or non-profit in need of transportation. If that’s you, let’s chat!

Right now, we’re looking for more programs in Southwest Detroit that has a non-profit after-school program and would benefit from free transportation for school kids. Is this you? We want to talk. Click here.

If you or someone you know offers a program elsewhere in Detroit, Highland Park, or Hamtramck, we’d like to hear from you as well, as we’re quickly growing our program. You can reach out by clicking here.

“I don’t know anyone at a school or a non-profit, but I really wanna help. “

Great! We have a few ways for you to do that. The easiest is to rent a bus for your school’s field trips, athletic events or after-school programs. We’re experts at providing field trips with steep discounts to schools, and we offer service to the entire Metro Detroit area. Simply full out the quote request form here and we’ll be back with you lightning fast.

These programs happen through the generous contributions of gracious supporters. If you’d like to contribute or know someone who can help provide funding, reach out to us at [email protected]. We’d love to chat.

You can also keep supporting us through our tours and bus rentals. Buy a ticket! Rent a bus. You can find more info here.

There’s a lot of exciting things in the works over here, and we’ll hope you join us on the journey.

Let’s get this city back on wheels.

Futurebus is supported thanks to Ford Philanthropy and its commitment to Southwest Detroit. You can learn more about Ford Philanthropy’s efforts here.