Hip-hop icon and activist partners with MARTA to curb disruptive behavior and promote transit courtesy on buses and trains.
ATLANTA – MARTA is tapping legendary Jackson, Mississippi-born, Atlanta-rooted artist and activist David Banner to help set a new tone on the city’s public transit system.
The transit agency rolled out its refreshed “Ride with Respect” campaign on Tuesday, placing the activist, producer, and hip-hop icon front and center in a effort aimed at cleaning up passenger behavior aboard trains, buses, and station platforms.
The new push builds directly on public awareness messaging deployed earlier this summer during the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Rather than relying strictly on policy signs, MARTA’s new campaign uses a video short produced by Atlanta’s own veteran-owned Hardman Creative Group. The spot opens on common transit headaches—blaring speakers, littered aisles, and general passenger rowdiness—before Banner steps onto the scene to reset expectations.
“Respect is not complicated,” Banner said regarding the launch. “It is about looking out for each other, treating people the way you would want to be treated, and understanding that we are all sharing this space.”
For MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt, bringing Banner onboard is about bringing real-world credibility to systemwide expectations.
“Ride with Respect is about creating an environment on MARTA where every customer and employee feels safe and valued,” Hunt said. “Through his authenticity, strength, and credibility, David Banner challenges us to think differently about how we treat one another.”
The campaign targets simple transit habits: keeping aisles clear, wearing headphones for personal audio, throwing away trash, and treating both operators and fellow commuters with basic courtesy.
Expect to see Banner’s message across MARTA train cars, bus lines, station digital screens, and social channels throughout the metro region.