Is public transportation more efficient?

Improves Fuel Efficiency The average miles per gallon multiplied by the number of private cars on the road versus transit buses or trains shows less fuel is consumed when using public transportation.



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Investments in public transportation have potential traffic safety, air quality, active transportation, and accessibility benefits, thus improving associated personal health outcomes. Public transportation has substantially lower crash rates and lower crash severity than automotive travel.

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An average transit bus can fit up to 42 people, which means a full bus can remove 42 single-passenger cars from the road during a commute. A handful of full buses running every 15 minutes or so along one commute route can take up to 168 cars off the road each hour, including those cars' emissions!

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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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9 Benefits of Public Transportation
  • It benefits communities financially: ...
  • Public transportation reduces air pollution: ...
  • Increased fuel efficiency: ...
  • Reduced traffic congestion: ...
  • Saves money: ...
  • Increases mobility: ...
  • Frees up time: ...
  • Public transportation is safer:


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A standard lightweight, moderate-speed bicycle is one of the most energy-efficient forms of transport. Compared with walking, a 64 kg (140 lb) cyclist riding at 16 km/h (10 mph) requires about half the food energy per unit distance: 27 kcal/km, 3.1 kW·h (11 MJ) per 100 km, or 43 kcal/mi.

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“When you take into account the production of railroad equipment and tracks, all of that is very carbon intensive as well,” says Hamilton. “Take the entire picture and trains are actually more polluting than the road buses, even though buses all run with dirty diesel fuel.”

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Traveling by public transportation is 10 times safer per mile than traveling by automobile. A person can reduce his or her chance of being in an accident by more than 90% simply by taking public transit as opposed to commuting by car.

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A Harvard study found that commute time is the biggest indicator as to whether or not a person can escape poverty. The longer your commute, the more likely you are to be late to important things, and you have less time with your family. Increasing public transit's efficiency and reach can make a big impact.

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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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The Northeast, home to several of the most traveled transit systems in the country, has the largest share of adults by region (25%) who use public transportation on a regular basis (daily or weekly). City dwellers are also more frequent users of mass transit.

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Finally, the plane is the most polluting means of transport and the one that generates the most greenhouse emissions.

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Trains. Besides walking and biking, traveling by train remains one of the greenest and most environment-friendly options when getting around. Regardless if electric or diesel-powered, trains emit between 66 and 75 percent fewer carbon emissions when compared to cars and airplanes.

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#1. Berlin: Germany's capital landed in the top spot, with 97% of respondents praising their transit system.

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Let's get started!
  1. New York City, New York. It's no surprise that New York City has the best mass transit system in the country. ...
  2. Boston, Massachusetts. ...
  3. San Francisco, California. ...
  4. Los Angeles, California. ...
  5. Washington, D.C. ...
  6. Chicago, Illinois. ...
  7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...
  8. Miami, Florida.


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8 Benefits of Public Transportation
  • Improves Community Health. ...
  • Economic Benefits to the Community. ...
  • Improves Fuel Efficiency. ...
  • Public Transportation Reduces Air Pollution. ...
  • Improves Road Congestion. ...
  • Improves Community Mobility. ...
  • Provides an Equitable Transportation System. ...
  • Public Transportation Improves Commuters Productivity.


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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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