Traveling in Public Transportation As a Way of Life

A rising controversy in today’s society involves public transportation as a way to increase mobility and accessibility in our nation and also in other growing nations throughout the world. Whether we should conform to car dependency or ride through the city in a bus is a dilemma that has increased awareness in the people. Car dependency, although a private way to travel, can be harmful to the environment and society, creating a wall between neighbors and communities. Using public transportation, these issues can be reduced.

Although travelling in a private vehicle might seem convenient and fast, public transportation is more efficient and practical. Its efficiency is defined by the number of people travelling in a single bus divided by the amount of gasoline used to reach a destination. In this way, we can determine that not only is public transit more eco-friendly, but there are also many more costs involved in buying a car. Although many car companies have increased a car’s fuel efficiency, the Oregon Department of Energy advises the people to use “public transit and commuter pool vehicles” as a way to lessen “air and water pollution, energy consumption, and highway maintenance costs.” The carbon monoxide exiting a car will mix with rain water to produce acid rain­ – thus, harming the forests and gardens of the world. This same gas is also highly toxic to humans because carbon monoxide can form very strong bonds to hemoglobin and in this way, the person chokes. If there is a high concentration of carbon monoxide in a certain place, the results might be fatal. In an article from Iowa State University, it is reported that warming-up a car in a garage, even with the doors open, will build up carbon monoxide fumes.

An environmentally friendly bus in the City of Baltimore. Its services are free.

Another problem with car-dependency is that it reduces interaction between communities and the people within a community. For example, a person driving to a shopping centre in their own automobile will have no outside interaction at that moment. However, if this same person rode on a public bus, he will not only make acquaintance and carry interesting conversations, but it will cost less and special attention will not be needed to keep his eyes on the road. A person who decides to use public transit will generally have a more entertaining and even bonding time. Secluding oneself from the world can affect a job, relationships between people, and emotional mood. However, opening oneself to the community and the people around can increase job efficiency, create a more positive and light environment [no pun intended], and create a greater and safer sense of community.

In the end, public transportation is not the only way or the best way to travel all the time. Nevertheless, it is one of the best ways to access places like work, stores, and dining. Not only does it help build relationships with people who might have similar ways of life but it can also create a safer and more entertaining community where people are open to conversation instead of becoming completely secluded. Public transportation is also a guilt-free option to travel with a lessened amount of environmental harm. Perhaps, it is the most eco-friendly option as compared to having 30 cars with gas exhaust. However, we must keep in mind that these are only a few ways that public transit proves itself great. Other problems, such as car accidents and injuries and traffic congestion, also play a great role of car-dependency as a world issue.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

EcoSaver IV. 2010. Photograph. Free Shuttle Service, Baltimore.

United States. Oregon Department of Energy. Transportation. Oregon.gov Home Page. 21Apr. 2011. Web. 02 Sept. 2011. http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/TRANS/transhm.shtmal.

Jacobs, Jane. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House, 1961.

“Cold Weather Increases Carbon Monoxide Hazards from Cars.”Iowa State University Extension.N. p., 16 Oct. 2000. Web. 2 Sept. 2011. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pages/communications/co/co_car.html.