Effectiveness of Public Transit for Lower Income Communities in the Bay Area A Case Study of AC Transit in the Bay Area
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Public transit is a key essential for metropolitan populations, supporting essential daily activities and providing an affordable mode of mobility, especially for low-income residents.However, concerns persist regarding the accessibility and effectiveness of public transit systems, particularly bus services, within Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the Bay Area, California.Particularly, in the East Bay, questions of bus services are called into question.Darell Owens, an advocate with the East Bay Transit Riders Union, highlights disparities in funding allocation, noting that counties like Alameda and Contra Costa receive less funding compared to other Bay Area regions and have witnessed cuts in bus lines, especially in certain neighborhoods 1 .This is alarming as prior research shows that reduced access to public transit heavily impacts low-income communities than any other groups 2 .It is urgent for our Californian decision makers to reinvest back into the public through public transit systems and advocate for the needs of all Californians.Not only would public transit solve our current issues of reducing carbon emission but increasing investments in public transit reduces the reliance on personal vehicles thus aligning itself with the State of California Governor Newsom's Executive Orders goals to reduce carbon emissions by 2045. 3 Background With rising global temperatures, public transportation has garnered worldwide attention and has recently seen a resurgence due to its capacity to reduce carbon emissions 4 .However, the advantages of public transportation extend beyond environmental benefits.1 Owens, Darrell."How California Is Killing Public Transit in the East Bay."San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Dec. 2023, www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/ac-transit-bus-oakland-18566529.php. 2 Ramey, Corinne."How America's Transportation System Discriminates against the Most Vulnerable."Slate Magazine, Slate, 27 Feb.2015, slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/02/americas-transportation-system- discriminates-against-minorities-and-poor-federal-funding-for-roads-buses-and-mass-transit-still-segregates- americans.html.
Author: Farah, Idyl
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7056255805
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: