Do buses pollute the environment?

“From the point of view of both congestion and pollution, intercity buses are the least polluting form of transportation out there,” said Hamilton, vice president of the ATU and former head of the Greyhound local. “The only thing that has less carbon footprint is walking and bicycling.



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Public transportation gets people where they're going while emitting far fewer climate-warming greenhouse gases than private cars. The reason is simple efficiency: while cars usually carry just one or two people at a time, a bus can carry 50 or more, and a train in a large city may carry thousands.

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Based on the study's fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emission data, the most sustainable mode of traveling in the U.S. is via intercity bus, followed by trains. Intercity buses use 280.1 passenger miles/gallon, while trains use 79.8 passenger miles/gallon.

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Mathews points to research showing that trains emit the lowest of CO2 per passenger mile at 177 grams per passenger mile. Buses come in at 299 grams per mile, second-worst only to cars at 371 grams.

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A bus or train ride emits three to seven times less emissions than an airplane flight. Two people who take a bus instead of driving (even a hybrid!) will cut their CO2 emissions by half!

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Quick and Green Travel Skip the buses and traffic on the road and instead treat yourself to spacious and comfortable seating, access to the Café Car and Quiet Car and many more thoughtful amenities onboard the train. Rail travel is at the head of the class when it comes to eco-friendly travel.

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Disadvantages of Public Transport
  • The commute by public transport can be slower than by personal vehicles. ...
  • As public transport vehicles don't stop at specific destinations, you must take care of your travel from the stand or station to reach your desired stop.
  • Privacy is a big issue in public transport.


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In a recent study at the University of California at Berkley, researchers discovered that commuters are more inclined to stop using public transit if they experience delays which can be blamed on the transit agency. (Most people will forgive other inconveniences such as traffic, emergencies or mechanical failures.)

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For example, biodiesel blends are used in biodiesel buses and in hybrid electric-biodiesel buses. Biofuel blends and hybrid vehicles are cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly sustainable alternatives to mass transit vehicles dependent on fossil fuels.

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Top 10 polluters
  • China, with more than 10,065 million tons of CO2 released.
  • United States, with 5,416 million tons of CO2.
  • India, with 2,654 million tons of CO2.
  • Russia, with 1,711 million tons of CO2.
  • Japan, 1,162 million tons of CO2.
  • Germany, 759 million tons of CO2.
  • Iran, 720 million tons of CO2.


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If you can't walk or cycle, then public transport is usually your best option. Trains are particularly low-carbon ways to travel. Taking a train instead of a car for medium-length distances would cut your emissions by around 80%. Using a train instead of a domestic flight would reduce your emissions by around 86%.

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