CyRide bus system changes firearms policy for Ames riders

CyRide, the bus system in Ames, has updated its firearms policy amid a lawsuit from an Iowa State University student who alleges the bus system’s former firearms ban went against Iowa code.

In a Nov. 5 meeting, the Ames Transit Board unanimously adopted a motion to change CyRide policies “insofar as they prohibit the possession of firearms on transit vehicles” and instead place a notice for passengers that carrying a firearm on the ISU campus could violate university policy and state law, according to an email from CyRide Director Barbara Neal.

The policy was brought under scrutiny by the Iowa Firearms Coalition and ISU junior Natalie Gibson, who currently has a petition filed in court against the City of Ames for the former firearms policy and is seeking damages.

“We do not have further comment on the Board’s decision due to pending litigation on the subject,” Neal said in her email.

Gibson, who stated in the petition she has never brought a firearm onto a CyRide bus, claimed she was “adversely affected” by the policy since it didn’t allow her to be “lawfully armed” while riding. The petition also stated that the Iowa Firearms Coalition brought up the policy concern with the city in October 2025, but the policy didn’t change.

Alan Ostergren, Gibson’s attorney, said in an email that they are both “pleased that the City acknowledged its policy needed to change.”

“More work remains on the lawsuit, but this is an important step forward,” Ostergren said in his email. “The Iowa Firearms Coalition notified the City over a year ago that its policy was illegal. Unfortunately, the City only paid attention after a lawsuit was filed.”