Make City Bus Stops Sparkle for the Albuquerque Pride Parade
ALBUQUERQUE – ABQ RIDE, Keep Albuquerque Beautiful, and community volunteers are prepping for the Albuquerque Pride Parade by cleaning the Central corridor from Girard to Wyoming to ensure a safe and neat parade route to spotlight Albuquerque’s vibrant LGBTIQIA+ community. The City is hosting a day of action on Saturday, May 31 to prepare for Pride.
“We are One Albuquerque, and there’s something truly magical about Burqueños coming together to uplift one another and celebrate the spirit of community,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Together, let’s make Central shine and show the world that Albuquerque is a city that’s inclusive, beautiful, and welcoming to all.”
ABQ RIDE seeks 75 volunteers to join in this day of service. Volunteers meet at the Uptown Transit Center near ABQ Uptown at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, and must register in advance. The volunteer experience includes connecting with neighbors and being shuttled from bus stop to bus stop to pick up trash until noon when everyone returns to the Uptown Transit Center to enjoy a sweet treat. Water bottles and cleaning equipment will be provided.
“Help make our city sparkle! ABQ RIDE challenges local businesses, nonprofit partners, and passionate community members to step up and volunteer,” said Transit Director Leslie Keener. “This is your chance to make a noticeable difference — let’s come together to ride the historic Route 66 with pride.”
At last year’s event, volunteers collected 1,100 pounds of trash safely disposed of by the City of Albuquerque’s Solid Waste Department.
“Our city is at its best when we come together for initiatives like this,” said Solid Waste Management Director Billy Gallegos. “Creating opportunities for residents to join in our mission to enhance the beauty and quality of life here allows us to create a better Albuquerque together.”
People keep up the momentum by volunteering to adopt local bus stops year-round with a weekly cleanup and monitoring commitment to ensure the space is tidy and safe for riders before hopping on the bus. There are currently 112 adopted stops out of the City’s 2,700+ bus stops.
“Inspiring others is big. Volunteering with the Adopt-A-Stop Program shows that someone cares about Albuquerque bus stops and riders,” said Matthew Concho, UNM student and Adopt-A-Stop volunteer. “Sometimes people just need that push to see that other people care as well, which is why I choose to volunteer.”
Volunteers can park for free at the Uptown Transit Center or arrive using free public transportation on Routes 8, 157, and on the ART Red Line (Route 766). Find information on how to sign up, Adopt-A-Stop, Pride parade detours, and more volunteer opportunities. Any time you see trash in the transit system, please report it on the See Say app.
A special thanks to event sponsors Home Depot, SERVPRO, and The Paleta Bar.
ABQ RIDE’s mission is to provide the community with safe, clean, and reliable transportation.