Boosting Mass Transit is a Win for Everyone
Six months in, it’s time to admit that there are a lot of losers in this pandemic. But essential workers, people of color, and people with disabilities seem to continually get thrown under the bus — sometimes quite literally.
The United States has incredibly sparse public transportation compared to most other countries. And while some of this has to do with much of U.S. suburban development taking place after the 1950s when the car was fast becoming the transportation of choice, that argument doesn’t hold up when looking at public transit systems in Canada, a country which was also largely developed with the car in mind.
Cities in post-war Europe and Canada invested in public transit as they expanded suburbs, but the U.S. expanded at a comparable rate without including the corresponding bus and rail systems. This is due largely to the fact that most legislators continue to view public transit as welfare, and these same legislators are reluctant to fund anything considered ‘welfare’.
The issue of reliable public transit isn’t simply a matter of being able to move from point A to point B. Rather, the inability to get to point B reveals issues of economic inequality, environmental sustainability, and disability rights. Transit justice advocates have been attempting to reform the sub-par system for decades—with varying degrees of success. Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, groups like the Riders Alliance in New York City were focused on lobbying state legislatures for funding to improve transportation services and increase ridership, but now states are becoming increasingly strapped for cash. Additionally, despite its massive importance in the quality of life for working people, public transit has not historically been a priority, and that is unlikely to change.
In an effort to show constituents that officials have their best interests in mind, many governments and transit authorities have engaged in things like deep cleaning of trains and busses and having masks available at the stations. While riders might appreciate the availability of face coverings, they are less so of the shutdowns required to conduct these performative hygiene regimens.
The fact is, shutdowns and cuts to service deprioritize essential workers, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups in favor of those who are no longer riding public transit. Meanwhile, the actual riders are pleading for real changes. According to the Riders Alliance for example, riders are asking for increased service in the outer boroughs where people are often packed together, while busses run empty in wealthier parts of the city because white collar workers are staying home. Riders also want an end to overnight shutdowns which disenfranchise many essential workers, including nurses. At the same time, government leaders constantly laud the importance of those essential workers who are now left with no easy and affordable way to get home.
However, It’s not just about improving service. For many, the prevalence of COVID has shrunk our daily travel patterns, leaving home only when we need to for essentials. This is easier in most urban areas where the essentials are at a walkable distance, but much less so in others where having a car is a necessity. A sustainable transit system would incorporate creating neighborhoods that give residents easy access to grocery stores, libraries, schools, parks, and a host of other services. Unfortunately, most suburbs have been designed so that they actively discourage anything but car transportation.
Anna Zivarts, director of the Disability Mobility Initiative in Seattle suggested that perhaps people need to think more about the cost — in dollars and otherwise — of their travel, and that perhaps many are already doing so as a result of the pandemic. “If you don’t have a car, travel is something you have to think about.” She said. “I just don’t go places anymore, and maybe that’s ok. Maybe we need to spend more time in our neighborhoods getting to know our neighbors, and rather than driving a long distance to go shop at Costco, we should be figuring out ways to rebuild local economies, and support services — healthcare, etc. — being in our local communities. We should bring closer all those things we’ve allowed to become further away as we gave in to this car-based culture.”
When talking about the cost of travel, we can’t ignore the environmental component either. In the sudden lull of movement during lockdown, we saw stories of wild boars taking over the streets of Haifa and goats scampering through a small Welsh town. Now, the West Coast is on fire as a direct result of global warming, and we’re not doing nearly enough to make the necessary changes to impede these natural disasters.
Transportation accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, making it the country’s largest single source. 83% of that comes from cars and trucks. By investing in transit systems, we would be making a strategic contribution to tackling the climate crisis. In doing so, we’d also see a fall in chronic illnesses caused by poor air quality and an end to disparities in mobility due to economic status, race, or ability.
If we prioritize public transit, we could reimagine entire communities that create an improved quality of life. Mass public transit is a crucial piece of a just infrastructure. We need to design a system that has the interests of the most marginalized members of society at its core, and in doing so, design a better system for everyone.
