People Should Use Public Transportation Instead of Driving Essays

People Should Use Public Transportation Instead of Driving Essays People Should Use Public Transportation Instead of Driving Essay People Should Use Public Transportation Instead of Driving Essay People should use public transportation instead of driving One of the difficult choices people have to make today is that of utilizing public transportation or an automobile. Americans spend a lot on everything concerning owning a car, high prices of gas, insurance, parking, license plate registration, and maintenance of the vehicle, for example. In addition, people experience long delays driving their cars every day due to crowded roads. Also, traffic congestion seems to worsen intensely while the number of motor vehicles does not stop growing; as a result, the air gets more and more polluted. According to Texas Transportation Institute, traffic congestion costs Americans $63. 1 billion a year (TTI). The use of public transportation is indeed an advantageous choice for a myriad of reasons. First off, public transportation takes people to a lot of places for a cheap price. Nowadays, due to several economic factors, people search for alternatives that help them to save money. Cars are expensive to buy and to maintain; also, gas prices have been increasing dramatically. On the other hand, public vehicles allow commuters to go around different distances spending much less than if they had to drive a car. If you compare the cost of gas and parking to the cost of train or bus pass, you will figure out that a monthly commuting pass is far more economical. Also, according to the American Automobile Association, â€Å"the estimated cost of driving a single-occupant vehicle is between $4,826 (for a small car) and $9,685 (for a large car) per year, depending upon mileage. By contrast, the annual average cost for public transportation for one adult ranges from $200 to $2,000, depending upon mileage, time of day, type of vehicle or service† (AAA). So, when looking at public transportation, one of the main benefits is undoubtedly the ability of saving some money because it costs less than driving. Another reason to advocate the use of public transportation is that it is environmentally friendly. In other words, the more people who choose mass transit, the less air pollution. The American Public Transit Association (APTA) says that â€Å"Public transportation helps promote cleaner air by reducing automobile use, which can exacerbate smog and public health problems. For each mile traveled, fewer pollutants are emitted by transit vehicles than by a single-passenger automobile; for example, buses emit 80 percent less carbon monoxide than a car†. Furthermore, mass transit emits much less hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides than cars; these kinds of gas can cause a plethora of respiratory illnesses in humans. Therefore, the result of choosing mass transit is that it benefits the environment and consequently decreases the rate of diseases among people. There is also a social aspect to consider; public transportation is an interesting choice because it can help you widen your social life and have some fun. When you take public transport, you get to meet more people and have the chance to make new friends. Moreover, you can enjoy the scenery if the bus, subway or train goes through scenic regions, and that, certainly will make you a less stressed person. For instance, my sister met her best friend in a train. After having to go on several rides together, they built not only a beautiful friendship but also they learned several things that they can do during the trips, such as, appreciating the landscapes, catching up with some reading, and interacting with people. So, all these factors go against the idea that public transportation is boring and exhausting. In conclusion, after viewing some benefits of using public transportation, we can no longer deny that it is more advantageous than driving in many aspects. People who choose mass transit are avoiding a profuse number of concerns with expenses, and consequently, they save money. Second, they are contributing to a place with good air quality; as a result, they profit from that because they are more likely to be healthy. Lastly, they take advantage of riding public transportation inasmuch as they can expand their contacts and also enjoy their life a bit more.