Public transportation is not just a series of buses and trains taking people from one place to another; it’s a reliable and affordable way for people to get to where they need to go, while helping different people interact with each other and include everyone. It brings communities together by reducing isolation and making it easier for people to interact and participate in daily life. Community is more important than people realize. Isolation is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Sounds surprising, but it’s true. Social connection is a big part of people’s health. It is proven that people who experience loneliness and isolation are more likely to die earlier, regardless of the cause.      

Loneliness: Studies show the increasing rate of teens loneliness. These charts are concerning, considering how much of an impact loneliness can have on someone, especially when it can lead to death. Public transportation is a great solution for this problem. It provides the daily social connection people need in their lives and allows them to connect with others in their community. Public networks also serve the important role of getting people to their jobs, schools, and other resources. Not only is this great for the economy because people are able to get to their jobs, but people can also get to shops and businesses quicker and easier. Lack of transportation can lead to poor health, too. Whether it’s missing an important appointment or the bus stop can help someone get some fresh air and some steps in. Urban transportation is deeply embedded within the community and shapes how people connect and interact with each other. Creating a routine is great for making personal connections with people. Whether it’s making friends with your daily bus driver or riding the bus and seeing familiar faces each time.

Environmental issues: Some may argue that individual transportation is quicker and more efficient. That is false. Cars cause more traffic and get stuck in the way too often. Parking is also a big issue in big cities, but with a bus, you get dropped off at or near your destination, ensuring you will be there on time. The comparison of the amount of money spent on car payments to a yearly bus pass is significant and is the perfect example of how public transportation is a great resource for low-income people who cannot afford a car.  They are able to get where they need to be and pay notably less money than if they were to actually have a car. Also getting the daily connection that helps them not become a victim of loneliness. Not only does public transportation assist in connecting communities, but it also improves community life and helps cities reduce pollution by limiting the number of cars on the road, which in turn reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, public transportation has suffered a significant decline, and people have started switching to cars. When there is a greater than necessary amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, it leads to significant climate change. Climate change leads to the disruption of the natural world of animals, plants, and all living organisms. This domino effect is a big change that is happening in the world. This shows just how much positive public transportation is for not only connecting within communities but also helping reduce greenhouse gases and pollution throughout the world.

Solutions: With the lack of funding for improving designs for public transportation, and making it more comfortable for people using it. And the increasing population of people using their own form of personal transportation. Public transportation has suffered a major decline with people not using it anymore, because they don’t know how many positives it has, and how good it is for the community. Despite how favorable public transit is compared to cars, now that there is less funding, the environment is getting worse for people who rely on it every day. This issue can be solved by raising awareness for how important public transportation is not only for the environment, but for the community it helps connect.