Four Arguments in Favor of Transportation Accessibility

In today’s world, everyone has the fundamental right to access transportation. – CEO of Liftango, Kevin Orr

Why is transportation access important?

The availability of public transportation has been shown to have a favorable influence on socioeconomic conditions, the environment, everyday social activities, and health. Let’s examine six factors that make public transportation accessibility crucial in both urban and rural settings.

1. Public transportation is more environmentally friendly

It should come as no surprise that public transportation is far more environmentally friendly than private transportation and single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs).

Transportation-related emissions are responsible for 29% of world emissions. According to data released by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2018, autos were responsible for 41% of the greenhouse gases released by transportation modes. The use of cars still has a negative impact on the environment and causes needless traffic jams. Cities are thought to be responsible for more than 70% of all emissions, making them significant contributors to these issues.

Car usage is significantly greater in rural regions than in urbanized ones because of transit issues, particularly with regard to convenient access to transportation services. For instance, according to data from the UK, more than 50% of families in rural areas possess two or more automobiles. As a result, SOV use increases and C02 emissions increase.

According to Yatskiv et al., using public transportation to get about can help reduce the negative environmental consequences of driving while also enhancing environmental health. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), municipalities with robust public transportation networks may be able to cut their annual carbon emissions by up to 37 million metrics tons.

2. Social and Financial Equity Are Created by Public Transportation

Individuals and families’ access to resources is still greatly influenced by social and financial fairness.

Public transportation continues to be a necessary and valuable service for society since it gives community members access to social opportunities that they may not otherwise have. Good mental health and a sense of belonging via social connection are successfully enhanced and promoted by having easy access to public transportation. Affordable transit efforts might provide accessibility to social services, hence mitigating loneliness and isolation.

For those or families that cannot afford to buy and maintain a car or pay for private ridesharing services, public transportation can also be a far more cost-effective choice. Generally speaking, using public transportation is also far more economical. In example, as people age, they may need to rely on public transportation since they are less likely to have discretionary cash.

Since older people are less likely to possess cars, having access to transportation is essential for a population that is getting older. Another community group more dependent on public transportation is students and young adults, whose incomes are typically lower on the earnings scale. Public transportation offers one of the most affordable ways for them to connect to necessary services and expand their horizons.

Social and financial fairness are jeopardized when some community groups are denied or unable to use public transportation, particularly low-income families, the elderly, and students.

3. Using public transportation is healthier for us

The use of public transportation and physical activity are positively correlated.

In contrast to 80% of trips performed by automobile when more than two miles away, visits under one mile are 81% more likely to be made on a bike or on foot, according to data from the UK Department of Transportation in 2016. People are more inclined to walk a distance to go to a location (such as a bus stop, train station, etc.) if it is physically nearby and accessible, as seen by the increase in physical activity.

Capena further emphasizes how planners of public transportation often account for the fact that passengers will typically walk up to 400 meters for buses and 800 meters for trains.

Because we travel shorter distances to get from one transit hub or meeting place to another, taking public transportation also greatly benefits incidental exercise, or the modest movements we do throughout the day. The ease of arriving a short distance from the end destination replaces incidental exercise when compared to using a car—unless the person needs to park further away and walk.

According to a 14.5-year research conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2000, those who commuted by bicycle (an average of three hours per week) had a mortality risk that was almost 40% lower than that of non-cyclists (after multivariate correction that took leisure time physical activity into account).

Exercise is clearly important for a better quality of life, and by giving people the means to fit in comfortable exercise throughout their daily commute, public transportation can help prevent obesity and other health issues when incidental exercise takes place.

4. Public Transportation Makes Employment Accessible

Lack of access to reliable transportation becomes a major obstacle to work, particularly for those without own automobiles. Therefore, there are more employment opportunities when public transportation is easily accessible, practical, and reasonably priced.

Pons Rotger and Nielsen claim that the ability to commute via metropolitan public transportation systems enhances an individual’s success in the labor market because it gives them access to a workforce that offers a wealth of opportunities.

However, those in society who depend on transit services to obtain work prospects face significant disadvantages in areas where there is a shortage of transportation. These transportation options must to be planned so that job prospects are not compromised due to a person’s socioeconomic background or place of residence.

Communities that are unable to obtain the opportunity necessary to overcome their existing situations are confronted with a cycle of unemployment or employment disadvantage. According to a 2019 literature analysis by Saif et al., employment accessibility based on public transportation has a beneficial impact on individual salaries.

“In all local areas, transportation infrastructure, parental employment opportunities, and children’s accessibility to local services are important. However, these factors are likely to be especially important for those living in more remote or rural areas, where poorer access to services may exacerbate the effects of growing up in poverty.”

If transportation infrastructure is harder to reach, the likelihood of disadvantage in terms of job prospects increases for rural and isolated places. Therefore, public transportation is essential for granting access to jobs.