Jordan Williams Leads Two Horses Onto Detroit DDOT Bus

Two horses boarded a Detroit Department of Transportation bus near 7 Mile and Strasburg Street last Saturday evening, according to WXYZ.

The unusual scene, captured on video by a bystander, showed the animals being led onto the vehicle before walking back off. While the moment provided a viral spectacle for onlookers, it has sparked a conversation regarding city transit policies and the visibility of urban equestrian culture.

“I was thinking, like, ‘Oh my God, what about the people on the bus? What if the horse used the bathroom on the bus? Like, what’s going on?’” Ellessia Drew told WXYZ after filming the incident while driving near the intersection.

Jordan Williams, the co-founder of Urban City Cowboys, was the man leading the horses. He said he was in Detroit to assist with a fundraiser and provide horseback rides for children when he saw the bus approaching a stop.

Williams said that he spoke with the bus driver through the door before deciding to walk the horses onto the bus and immediately back off. He claimed this was not an isolated incident, stating he has brought horses onto various DDOT routes over the years.

“We’ve been on the Jefferson, we’ve been on the Chalmers, we’ve been on the Conners and now on the 7 Mile,” Williams said with a laugh, adding that the buses seemed smaller than in previous years.

Williams Uses Horses to Highlight Black Cowboys in Detroit

The stunt was not merely a prank for Williams, who has used his platform to highlight the presence of Black cowboys within the city. His involvement with horses began 14 years ago after he witnessed the closure of various youth programs and recreation centers in Detroit.

By bringing horses into public spaces, Williams aims to challenge perceptions of who belongs in the equestrian community. He expressed a hope that the city would view the encounter with humor rather than strictly through a lens of policy violation.

“The point is just to bring light to… like there are cowboys that look like us,” Williams said.

While the community reaction was mixed—with some residents like Alan Houser noting that “you never know what you will see” in Detroit—the transit authority has taken a firmer stance on the matter of safety and regulation.

DDOT Clarifies Transit Animal Policies After Horse Incident

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) confirmed that the incident was not consistent with official department policy. Although the agency recognizes the necessity of service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act, horses do not meet the criteria for permitted animals on board.

The saints jordan williams during the uefa europa conference league match at meadow shrewsbury date thursday october

According to a statement released by DDOT, the agency is taking steps to address the incident to prevent potentially unsafe or uncomfortable rides for passengers. The department clarified the specific requirements for animals allowed on city transit:

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Service animals must be legally certified.
Animals must be individually trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability.
Service animals must remain under the control of the person with the disability at all times.
Animals are not permitted to occupy a seat and must sit on the floor or on the person’s lap.

The agency emphasized that while guide dogs and signal dogs are protected, horses do not qualify under these specific safety and accessibility guidelines.

“We are taking appropriate steps to address this incident as it is not consistent with DDOT policy and potentially creates an unsafe and uncomfortable ride for our passengers,” DDOT said in its statement.

Williams, however, maintains that his intentions were centered on community engagement and lightheartedness. “I hope DDOT looks at it like a joke like everyone else, and hopefully they come out to a rodeo,” Williams said.