How does public transportation affect people?

It is a lifeline for millions of Americans connecting them to people, places and possibilities. It also builds thriving communities, creates jobs, eases traffic congestion and promotes a cleaner environment. Investment in public transportation spurs both local and the national economy.



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Access to public transportation may also reduce health disparities and promote health equity by increasing access to healthier food options, medical care, vital services, and employment for communities that do not have equal access to these fundamental daily necessities.

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Public Transportation Reduces Air Pollution Approximately 85% of the greenhouse gas emissions that come from transportation are due to day-to-day commutes. By leaving the car at home, a person can save up to 20 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every day.

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Transportation also leads to noise pollution, water pollution, and affects ecosystems through multiple direct and indirect interactions. With the continuous growth in transportation, increasingly shifting to high-speed transportation modes, these externalities are expected to grow.

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Reduced traffic congestion: Public transportation can convey many more people in much less space than individual automobiles, which helps to keep traffic congestion lower, which in turn reduces air pollution from idling vehicles, and helps riders avoid the stress that comes from daily driving in highly congested areas.

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Below are some pros and cons of using public transportation to help better your commute.
  • Pro: Can be more productive while taking public transportation.
  • Con: Wait time/cost.
  • Pro: Environmentally friendly.
  • Con: Sharing the experience with others.


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Challenges and Limitations
  • Peak-hour crowding.
  • Traffic congestion.
  • Inadequate service during off-peak hours, holidays, and weekends.
  • High infrastructure maintenance cost.
  • Increased risk of infectious diseases.
  • Long waiting times during peak hours.


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Inadequate public transportation can also increase social isolation, particularly for older populations and people with disabilities or others who do not drive. This can increase the risk for early mortality, depression, and dementia.

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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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Did you know that riding public transportation not only helps with physical health, but with mental health too? Riding public transportation can reduce your stress levels in a few different ways: Driving can be a stressful way to commute - due to unpredictable traffic and parking situations.

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Save Money. A household can save an average of $10,000 annually by taking public transit. Owning a car costs between $6,000 and $12,000 a year — it's not cheap. If we keep fares affordable, more people have access to the transportation they need.

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Cost-cutting and poor design. Low ridership is sometimes given as a rationale for not investing in public transport. But when transport doesn't make sense, people won't ride it. The Brookings analysis in Chicago highlights one common commute, which would take 20 minutes by car and 60 minutes on public transit.

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Public transit is a vital force for the American economy. The American Public Transportation Association estimates that 87% of trips directly benefit the local economy, with $1 invested in public transit believed to generate $5 in economic returns.

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