Transportation

Currently, I take public transportation very rarely. I live in the East Bay and I work in the North Bay. There is not really any public transportation between the East Bay and the North Bay, so I drive about 25 miles from my house to work and then home each day (50 miles total). I really wish there was another option to get to work because I would prefer to take public transportation most days.
I used to live and work in San Francisco and so I took the bus/walked everywhere. I then moved to the East Bay and continued to work in San Francisco so I took Bart and the bus. While public transportation has it's inconveniences, I generally preferred taking Bart and the bus to driving. I definitely was more active when I took public transportation because I walked to/from Bart and also to whichever bus station I needed to get to.

While I know my car is contributing to general air pollution, one thing I find interesting is that I feel that I am less exposed to air pollution while I am driving in my car than when I am walking on the street to Bart/a bus stop and while waiting for the bus at the bus stop. Because I am in my car the entire way with the windows up, I am not breathing in the exhaust from other cars, whereas I am breathing it in while I am walking or waiting on the street.

Overall I am a proponent of public transportation and think we need better and more public transportation systems in the Bay Area.

Comments

  1. Terrianne GSeptember 15, 2018 at 2:02 PM

    You bring up a good point for people who commute in their cars , but even in times of traffic, you are at a stand still and still breathing in the exhaust and gas from other vehicles (even with the recycle vents on). It's difficult to say - The Bay Area is so public transit friendly, but with all the recent attacks and violence that goes on in our areas, it defeats the whole purpose of wanting to become more environmental conscious. I lived in NY for a bit, and I LOVED the transportation. I still to this day don't know why the Bay Area can't get it together with the public transportation - people have an idea that NYC's subways are dirty and unsafe- they are kept so clean, I've never been on a clear public transit, buses are always on time and police are often patrolling. I don't know why our crimes / society treats these gifts of public transit like public urinals / trash cans / violence areas.
    One big reason why I don't take public transit anymore to work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownSeptember 16, 2018 at 10:38 PM

      Ayla I agree with you. I live in Oakland and don't take public transportation to USF mostly due to the time factor. Why waste 2 hours when I could get there in 30 minutes. I also teach dance in SF and Marin so carrying school, dance and extra clothes so lugging around all my gear by public transportation is not worth it. Every time I get in my car I start to notice the fact that I am contributing to environmental toxicants from me carbon footprints.

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