Some typical benefits include universal accessibility for most citizens in the city, the absence of car maintenance fees, and being able to lower a community's pollution. Some of the drawbacks, however, include congested trains and buses, and erratic arrival and departure schedules.
Some typical benefits include universal accessibility for most citizens in the city, the absence of car maintenance fees, and being able to lower a community's pollution. Some of the drawbacks, however, include congested trains and buses, and erratic arrival and departure schedules.
The main disadvantage of bus travel is the lack of flexibility. Buses generally follow a set route and schedule, so if you miss your bus or need to make an unexpected stop along the way, it can be difficult to do so.
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.)
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.
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.
Public Transportation Reduces Air PollutionApproximately 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.
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.
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.
Overall, the research suggests that feelings of anxiety and discomfort associated with traveling with people you do not know is the most influential factor driving negative feelings of personal safety on public transport. Gender and actual experience of unsafe incidents were not as important.