There are many events in my life that require the use of public transportation. For example, I use the light rail to get to the airport and to ball games. Busses, trains and trams come in handy when traveling in other cities for my job. Not to mention, my kids will soon be at the ages where they will ride a school bus. I usually take these modes of transportation for granted, but I was reminded the other day of just how much we need this public service when I came upon this article on public transportation.
According to Texas Transportation Institute in their 2011 Urban Mobility Report, public transportation saves 4.2 billion gallons of gas each year. Then there are the jobs that public transportation creates. For every $1 billion spent, 36,000 jobs are created and supported. Everyone in a community benefits from public transportation being used, including those who don't use it. Jobs and clear roads are just a few of the many perks that everyone enjoys from the use of public transportation.
If we didn't have busses, light rails, trams and trains, I cannot even imagine what traffic would look like. Not to mention, our economy would suffer along with our planet. Let us not forget to be thankful for the harmonious flow of transportation we enjoy today and take actions to support it when possible.
