For many survivors of domestic violence, getting to safety starts with something as simple as a bus ride. Public transit connects to shelters, counseling, jobs, and the everyday independence needed to rebuild.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Cheryl Chavers of the Newport News Police Department on how access to transit supports survivors and strengthens communities.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Here's how you can get involved ⬇️

Join DV agencies across Hampton Roads for the annual Day of Unity on October 6 at the Slover.

Register to attend the inaugural Domestic Violence Awareness Summit in Newport News

Connect with the Newport News Police Department Domestic Violence Unit

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Access to reliable transit isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It reduces barriers and strengthens communities. In this episode, we sit down with Cierra Lewis, Gender & Equity Practitioner at YWCA South Hampton Roads to explore how public transit reduces community disparities. From connecting survivors of domestic violence with safe housing and support, to ensuring families can reach jobs, education, and healthcare, transit plays a critical role in creating opportunity and stability.

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Get connected with YWCA South Hampton Roads

• Donate to the mission
• Check out their website + upcoming events

Public transit content does well on social media? There's no way...

Yes, way! For this month's episode, we sat down with Hayden Clarkin - who you probably know as @thetransitguy - to talk all things transit social media and how he built his platform. Where does the transit content inspo come from? How did he get inspired to transform his Adele fan account into a transit-walkability-planning-engineering-masterpiece? Get these answers - and more - in this special episode of Going Places.

Follow Hayden on Social 👇

• @thetransitguy on Instagram
• @thetransitguy on X (fka Twitter, in memorium)
• @thetransitguy on threads
• @thetransitguy on Substack
• @thetransitguy on Bluesky

Then, give us a follow, while you're at it 👇

• Going Places Podcast on Facebook
• Going Places Podcast on Instagram

Check out the Going Places Podcast website to learn about hosts, guests and more 👉 www.goingplacespod.com

Driving alone seems convenient, but it is a huge personal expense. Lots of people prefer driving alone, but you don't have to. goCommute is the Hampton Roads region's Transportation Demand Management Program (TDM, for short).

We sat down with Monique Lynch, the Program Specialist for goCommute, to talk about all the ways people can ditch driving alone and explore the benefits of commuting smarter.

Get Connected with goCommute

Check out goCommute's website

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Did you know that Hampton Roads is actually served by three separate transit agencies? That's right - HRT covers Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach; Suffolk Transit serves the City of Suffolk; and the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) covers James City County, York County/Yorktown, and Williamsburg.

Join us for this conversation featuring Ben Goodill, the Director of Planning & Administration, and Iyanla XO, the Marketing & Administrative Specialist, to learn about all things WATA!

Want to contribute a name option for the new transportation center in North Williamsburg? Take the survey! Hurry - it's only open until June 16!

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The evolution of transit continues! In this episode, we chat with Severine Koen, the Northeast Team Lead of Via, the mobility partner of Hampton Roads Transit providing OnDemand Rideshare services.

OnDemand is currently a pilot program in Hampton Roads, available in select zones of Newport News and Virginia Beach.

Listen to Severine talk about what OnDemand Rideshare - aka Microtransit - is, how it works, and who's currently using it in Hampton Roads.

For more information, check out OnDemand.

Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are turning away from the driver's seat. In this episode of Going Places, we sit down with Scott Campbell, millennial and President of VIA Design, an architecture firm located steps away from Norfolk's MacArthur Square Tide light rail station, to talk about how young professionals feel about public transit.

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Each year, public transit agencies, staff and supporters visit Richmond, VA to speak with legislators about the importance of transit in our communities. Hosted annuallyby the Virginia Transit Association, this event is the perfect opportunity to talk all things transit on a legislative level.

Join host Amy Jordan for an on-site experience during Transit Advocacy Day! Hear from elected officials and transit organization representatives about the impact of public transit.

Our guests this episode:

• Sen. Aaron Rouse (D, District 22)
• Sen. Danny Diggs (R, District 24)
• Bob Crum, Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)
• Danny Plaugher, Executive Director of the Virginia Transit Association (linked above)

Don't forget - like Going Places on Facebook and follow us on Instagram!