Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

This will be my last post from my photos of Switzerland. I've previously written about the cultural differences I've noticed over food, and what Americans could stand to learn from European thoughts on it. This time, I'm posting on public and mass transit, and why I think that America needs a better infrastructure for it. It's accompanied by photos I shot through the picture windows on the fantastic Swiss train system.


There’s something inherently American about owning and driving cars. From Henry Ford making his cars cheap enough for anyone to afford to the massive Eisenhower Highway system, Americans have built our country around the owning and driving of cars. So it makes sense that some Americans see public transportation not only as a superfluous expense, but as a direct threat to American values and way of life. I would argue, however, that if we want to sustain America’s quality and way of life, we need to begin developing and deploying greener mass transit on the local and national levels.

First of all, let’s clarify one thing: public transportation is not trying to take away your right to drive. It’s not stopping you from buying that "gas-guzzling" Hummer, and we’re not trying to abolish the American highway system. It simply stands to diversify the transportation options in our country, and make them more accessible. Many people think that if public transit has to shut down for any reason, those who rely on it are stuck without transportation. A proper transit system, however, has many routes to the same point, so that if the train goes down, you can take a bus, or a bike, or a taxi. Relying on a monoculture of any kind is dangerous. Our transportation is no different.

The design and construction of these systems will create jobs. Lots of them. And not just fancy, highly-skilled design and engineering jobs, but jobs at every skill level. And operating and maintaining these systems would help sustain this job growth. Outside of this marked economic benefit, there are other long term benefits of public transit. It is well documented that the presence of public transportation helps to raise the health and living standards of the poorest in our communities. It makes supermarkets, healthcare, and jobs available to them that were once nearly impossible to reach. Public transportation is one of the largest acts of “welfare” America could create.

Public transportation is also a healthier option, both for us and our planet. Public transit requires more walking or bike riding than personal transit does. Walking to and from stations, making transfers, and even just waiting for the next train or bus is a workout. Especially if you’re carrying anything. Even just this bit of daily exercise could help slow our country’s growing obesity problem. It’s also greener and more sustainable, helping to reduce the tons of car exhaust and smog we produce each year, cutting down on asthma and other breathing problems. Trains and other systems that run on electricity can be powered by greener, newer technologies as they develop, without a major overhaul, allowing them to stay on the cutting edge of sustainable technology. 

Finally, public transit is a more time-effective way of traveling. Trains often take the same amount of time as driving, sometimes even arriving sooner. They aren’t subjected to traffic or other driving problems. Trains also allow you to sit comfortably and do other things while you travel. Many of my blog posts, including this one, have been written on trains and long Metro rides. Homework, paperwork, reading. Suddenly travel time has become free time. It allows you to take time to relax and have someone else get you there safely, a luxury we don’t often get.

Overall, public transportation is cleaner, healthier, faster, and more enjoyable than the congestion and pollution caused by cars. It is an economic stimulus with both short term and long term effects, and would help raise and maintain the standard of living for all Americans, especially those who need it most. It is one of the most sustainable and affordable solutions to getting our economy back on track. So why aren’t we fervently rushing to build more trains and lay more lines?