Public Transport
Cheap, accessible, and efficient mass public transport is a requirement for a sustainable city. Buying and owning a car is expensive and therefore not an option for many residents and public transit provides an affordable alternative. We, therefore, urge cities to invest in Public Transport to further improve affordability, accessibility, and overall quality.
Environmental Benefits
Transport accounts for 28.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the US and cars account for 45.1% (private vehicle use) and 29.4% (trucks and shipping) for a combined 74.5%. As transportation is the number one contributor to the U.S greenhouse gas emissions, public transport has a vital role in reducing the U.S carbon footprint.
Affordability
Owning and operating a car is expensive and is therefore not an option for many Americans. As gas prices increase, public transport offers an affordable alternative. Many public transport systems offer monthly deals that provide cheaper transportation to residents using it daily. Furthermore, many Americans live paycheck to paycheck and can not afford small emergency expenses, traffic accidents, and car maintenance can be a constant worry that Public Transport takes away.
Safety
Safety is a very important factor and is sometimes used as a reason against public transport. But this could not be further from the truth, public transport decreases congestion, which decreases commuter times and thus decreases the risk of accidents. Crime is also often cited as a reason, but the risk of being the victim of a crime on public transport is lower than if you commute by car. Public Transport is generally considered 10 times safer than using a car.
Livability and Community
Public Transport increases the livability of the neighborhood as it decreases the number of cars. It also gives residents easy access to surrounding areas, amenities, and services.
Health
Health benefits from using public transport over cars are linked to significant health gains, decreased healthcare spending, and more economic activity. Public transport promotes healthier lifestyles as it increases physical activity when walking to and from stops and keeps the commuter in motion. Using public transport also decreases stress as the resident can relax while commuting instead of having to pay attention to the road while driving a car.
