Janis Scott

Janis Scott (1951–2024), also known as the "Bus Lady" of Houston, was an arts patron and transportation advocate.

Biography Scott grew up in Houston's East End near the Port of Houston as the daughter of a domestic worker, where she and her mother relied on the bus for transportation. In 1970 Scott won a scholarship to attend Rice University.

Advocacy A lifelong user of public transportation to navigate the city, Scott was known by many as the "Bus Lady" for her advocacy to and for Houston Metro. She served as a founding board member for the transportation advocacy group LINK Houston. In 2004 she was interviewed for the Voices of Civil Rights project at the Library of Congress about her experiences as a student during desegregation. She was a community associate at Jones College at Rice University and frequently attended events on campus while encouraging the students to explore the broader city.