Google celebrates public transportation with Google Doodle

April 14, 2020
The doodle, featuring the last “e” as a bus driver, is part of Google’s series thanking the essential workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Google is saying “thank you” to public transportation workers on April 14 with a Google Doodle featuring the last “e” in Google as a bus driver, complete with face mask.  

The doodle is part of a series aimed at thanking essential workers who “are working to save lives and keep communities safe during this pandemic.”

“As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world, people are coming together to help one another now more than ever. We’re launching a doodle series to recognize and honor many of those on the front lines,” said Google. “Today, we’d like to say: To all public transportation workers, thank you.”

In a separate post titled “Where there’s help, there’s hope,” Google expressed its gratitude further for frontline workers.

“We thank them for every late night, every extra shift. Every missed dinner at home. We thank them not only for the sacrifice they continue to make for us all, but the sacrifices their families and loved ones are making in kind…We thank them for showing up every day and night, all in service of saving lives and helping others.”

A list of all the professions Google will be honoring with doodles as part of series:

April 6: Public health workers and researchers in the scientific community

April 7: Doctors, nurses and medical workers

April 8: Emergency services workers

April 9: Custodial and sanitation workers

April 10: Farmworkers and farmers

April 13: Grocery workers

April 14: Public transportation workers

April 15: Packaging, shipping and delivery workers

In a group image of all the doodle “characters” that are part of this series, a teacher, restaurant chef and EMT are also displayed and will be honored later this week.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director

Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.

Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.  

She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.