50 Years of Ride Humboldt

Posted on: July 7, 2025

Celebrating 50 Years of Connection, Resilience, and Serving the Humboldt Community

This year marks 50 years of Ride Humboldt (Humboldt Transit Authority) connecting the wild, beautiful, and strong communities of Humboldt County. From coastal towns to inland forests, from bustling student hubs to quiet rural roads—we’ve been the lifeline that defies distance, challenges traditional modes of transportation, and insists that everyone deserves the freedom to move.

Half a century in, we’re not slowing down. We’re doubling down on access, sustainability, and the belief that public transit is key to a thriving future for Humboldt County.

The Origin Story: Born of Necessity, Built for Connection

Back in 1975, Humboldt County faced a problem. Our region was vast, rugged, and fragmented. People needed to get around, but public transportation was patchwork or nonexistent.

So the County and its municipalities—Eureka, Arcata, Trinidad, Fortuna, Rio Dell—joined forces to create the Humboldt Transit Authority. Their mission was radical in its simplicity: affordable, accessible, reliable transportation for everyone.

From day one, the goal wasn’t just moving people. It was opening up opportunity. Supporting local economies. Connecting families. Making sure living in a remote place didn’t mean being left behind.

Growth & Transformation: From Patchwork to Network

What started with a few fixed routes has evolved into a unified regional system that covers Humboldt County like never before.

  • The Redwood Transit System became our backbone along Highway 101.
  • We expanded service to Willow Creek, Southern Humboldt, Blue Lake, and more.
  • We added commuter routes, paratransit, and direct connections to College of the Redwoods.
  • In the past decade, we brought Eureka Transit Service, Arcata & Mad River Transit, and Dial-A-Ride under the Ride Humboldt umbrella.

It wasn’t easy. Along the way, we faced changing regulations, tight budgets, and a global pandemic. We embraced California’s Innovative Clean Transit Rule, committing to a zero-emissions future—even as other rural systems struggled just to survive. We unified our branding and fares to make transit simpler, friendlier, and easier to use.

Through it all, our team kept the buses running. Because that’s what Humboldt needed.

The Present: Access That’s EvolvingLooking back, we’re proud of how far we’ve come and what we’ve refused to give up.

We still put access first. That means connecting the remote corners of our county. Serving seniors and students. Keeping fares low or eliminating them entirely with zero-fare programs.

We’re not just surviving. We’re innovating. We’re going green with alternative fuels like hydrogen. We’re adding real-time apps and planning tools. We’re making it easier than ever to choose the bus.

The Road Ahead: Next 50 Years

We see a future of simpler, faster, more reliable service. We’re growing microtransit to meet people where they are. We’re turning RTS into a true express backbone. And we’re building a fully zero-emission fleet that is leading the way towards green transit for rural communities in America.

But no matter how much we innovate, one thing will never change: the connection between our drivers and our riders. Those daily greetings, shared stories, and knowing you’re welcome on board are a treasured part of our past, present, and our future.

Because 50 years in, Ride Humboldt isn’t just about the destination. It’s about the people we meet along the way.

Thanks for riding with us, Humboldt County. Here’s to the next 50 years of going further together.