Farhad Manjoo of the New York Times recently published an editorial proposing a relatively painless quick-win for the “Build Back Better” campaign – invest heavily in bus infrastructure.
Finally other Americans are discovering the wonderful and carefree world of public transportation by bus. I used to favor the metro but after living in a city (Madrid, Spain) that offered new, clean buses and dependable service, I was hooked on ability to move above ground with ease.
Manjoo’s article beautifully describes the joy of city buses and advantages for cities fighting pollution but doesn’t outline the advantages a well-organized bus network can provide to riders in both economic and health-related terms. I think it bears repeating that personal vehicles are not only expensive but the costs fluctuate a great deal, which can cause severe problems to people on very tight budgets.
Beyond that, buses can keep users active and healthy. I have always felt a little sluggish after about 4 days after arriving at my parents home in rural Nebraska and it is because my body misses the activity required to walk to and from the bus stops. That small bit of activity daily keeps me healthy and it would be key for so many people with struggle to stay healthy these days.
Where Manjoo really gets it right is in his assessment that now is the time. As we look to rebuild our habits after the past year of disruption, maybe we should consider options that will be better for the environment as well as our physical and financial health.
smartcityperspectives.com 