Growing up in Lubbock, Texas public transportation was inefficient and rarely available. Although Lubbock does have a small bus system, other means of public transportation are essentially nonexistent. Most of my friends lived across town and would have to rely on cars as the primary rode of transportation. I only had a few friends who lived a reasonable biking distance away from me. It wasn't until I went to Austin, Texas where I relied on public transport, ridesharing, and walking as my modes of transportation. Fortunately, our tuition at the University of Texas in Austin paid for our bus fare during our tenure at the university. I primarily used the bus to run errands or such. I only had, at most, a fifteen-minute walk to campus during my time in Austin. Walking is obviously the most environmentally conscious means of transportation and it was refreshing to get that morning fresh air on the way to my dreaded 8 am class.
It wasn't until my adventures in Europe in I experienced subways and trains. I personally enjoyed commuting via subway to get to my destinations. My favorite public transport was in Copenhagen, Denmark. With one pass, an individual was able to use the train, metro, buses, and harbor buses to one's desired destination. The public transport system was very clean, environmentally conscious, friendly, and relatively cheap.
I'm glad you were able to well utilize your school's available public transportation. I think even if students already have their own means of transportation, they should also experience the public transit system (maybe a 1-week trial) and see how that influences their lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI miss having my public transportation paid by my university. In San Jose, it was reliable and extremely convenient. I hear public transportation is very different in Europe. I cannot wait to try it out.
ReplyDelete