In 2009, transit riders Hans Gerwitz and Shannon Thomas proposed and celebrated the first Bus Driver Day in Seattle. They selected March 18th as the date in recognition of the opening of the first modern public transport system, the carrosses à cinq sols, or five penny coaches in 1662 in Paris. In 2014 the annual event was renamed Transit Operator Appreciation Day to include transit workers who operate trains and other kinds of transit vehicles.