Public Transport Revolution!

The Biden administration opened yesterday’s climate summit with a pledge to cut emissions by 50%, based on 2005 levels. This is a huge undertaking and necessitates the activation of smart city strategy. We know that transportation is the greatest source of pollution in the United States. According the the EPA, 28% of all US greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector.

So we need to completely revamp the transportation system in the United States. The administration is talking about trains and ships but the change needs to be more fundamental than that. The mentality around the way we move needs to change. The facilities supporting transport infrastructure needs to be strengthened so that people can enjoy the advantages shared transportation.

The issues with public transport in larger cities like Washington DC are somewhat small and easy to fix with smart devices and smart apps that can make public transportation more reliable, more secure and easier to use. Other cities around the country may have to put in more effort. There has been a resurgence in attention to public transportation of the last decade but the vast majority of Americans choose not to use any type of public transport system because the car culture still reigns supreme. And this is what needs to change. 

There a golden opportunity to look at this more as lifestyle change in the post-COVID-19 economy. People are taking stock of what is important to them and making changes. Public transportation takes away a little control from users, but it makes up for this by allowing passengers the freedom to enjoy their commute without the responsibility of driving and parking and it helps people stay active and healthy. If cities can enhance these two sentiments with smart upgrades to improve ease of use, security onboard and at bus stops and supporting infrastructure such as designated and priority bus lanes, we could see a public transportation revolution. And save the planet in the meantime.