MILWAUKEE — As Pride Month kicks off, a new bus is hitting the streets of Milwaukee County. Milwaukee County Transit System has unveiled their new Pride Bus for 2023.

The bus, which is wrapped in pride colors and has a unique design, will be on the road for the next year. MCTS employees voted on the winning design for the Pride Bus.

Brianne Mueller is a graphic designer from MCTS, who created the design for the Pride Bus. Mueller said she wanted to send a message that the bus is a safe space for everyone.

As she watched crews wrap the bus in her design, she said it meant a lot.

“I am just so honored when I get to see it on the street and see people’s reactions to it. People in the community and also employees are very excited about this so it is nice to see and overwhelmed by support,” said Mueller.

Wrapping a bus in any design is a challenge. Since the Pride Bus wraps around nearly the entire bus, it is an especially big undertaking. 

Jeramie Hotz works for Vector Media, a company MCTS contracts with to install bus wraps and advertisements. Hotz said it was a unique opportunity to be able to wrap the Pride Bus.

While the job took about eight hours, he said it was worth the effort to do something new.

“That is what makes my job fun, when you can see something and it is meaningful and you know it is going to be in a parade. That’s what keeps me doing it,” said Hotz.