As our friends over at the nonprofit group Transit Riders United point out, 2011 was a bumpy year in terms of Southeast Michigan's public transit picture.

"The past year has been characterized by major shifts in the transit landscape in southeast Michigan, ranging from substantial reductions in bus service to promising new discussions about regional governance and rapid transit," the Detroit-based group noted in a recent e-mail to the Hits.

But instead of focusing on the negative — all you standing there waiting in vain for a bus to roll by know all too well about that — the folks at TRU want to accentuate the positive by handing out some awards. And they want your help. There have been many wonderful people and companies working very hard to provide more and better transit for greater Detroit and we plan to recognize them.

As the message points out, TRU will present its Regional Transit Awards on May 15. A total of seven awards will be delivered, and your help is being requested to help make sure no worthy person or group is overlooked. Nominees are being accepted through March 31. To help deliver the appropriate back-pats, go to detroittransit.org.

> Email Curt Guyette