5 Reasons You Should Be Riding Public Transportation

April 16, 2015

Public transportation is critical to our environment, economic development and general well-being for many of us and communities across the U.S. There are many great benefits to ditching your car and riding transit, but we wanted to highlight five main reasons you should be a public transportation rider:

1. Keep Money in Your Pocket. This first one is obvious! Public transportation use lowers household expenses and frees up more income for other needs you have.
2. Help the Environment. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), a single commuter switching his or her commute to public transportation can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 10 percent and up to 30 percent if he or she eliminates a second car.
3. Reduce your Stress. High quality transit and transit-oriented development can reduce emotional stress and improves access to economic, social and recreational opportunities.
4. Avoid Being a Couch Potato. The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends 22 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, per day (or 150 minutes per week). Individuals who use public transportation average more than three times the amount of physical activity per day of those who don’t (approximately 19 minutes, rather than six minutes) by walking to stops and final destinations.
5. Last, but Surely Not Least – Skip Traffic. No one likes dealing with traffic! Why not avoid this hassle and jump on board public transit which allows you to relax and enjoy the ride to your next destination.

Check out the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) website to learn more about public transportation benefits: http://www.apta.com/mediacenter/ptbenefits/Pages/default.aspx.

---