If you’ve ever been to downtown West Palm Beach, you’ve probably seen or hopped on a bright pink trolley.
For some, a Rose Trolley is free transportation. But in neighboring Black communities, they are vehicles of change.
“They don’t have any transportation here [for things like] going just to Publix, to the doctor’s office, to pick up their prescription,” said Tonia Rich.
The wheels for Rose Trolley were set motion when Rich spent time delivering meals to homebound seniors as part of the kitchen ministry at Trinity United Methodist Church. She and her brother, Terry, who grew up in areas like Northwood and Pleasant City, wanted to do more.
“Somehow, some way it came about and now we all in,” Terry Rich said.
Seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the colorful fleet of trolleys — that look more like large decked out golf carts — zip through downtown hot spots in West Palm Beach and its dilapidated areas that border it.
The trolleys have become just as much of a staple as their sibling operators.