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The process of commuting to work or school is something everyone has to incorporate into their daily routine. It is an important part of our day as we are changing scenery and entering into the professional aspect of our lives. However, how we commute is crucial to our physical well-being and environment.
Most people commute to work, and according to the 2021 U.S. Government Census, over 90% of Americans who commute to work do so by car. Driving holds an overwhelming majority of usage, six times more than all other transportation methods combined. Fewer than 10% of people use alternative methods of transportation such as public transportation, walking or cycling to work. As a result, our society deeply favors the use of driving over other methods of transportation. This inequity is distinctly noticeable in different facets, such as the uneven distribution of pedestrian crossings in urban areas, disparities in lifestyle choices between different socio-economic groups and the absence of dedicated sidewalks, marked bike lanes, or trails in certain neighborhoods or regions; all of which contribute to an overall deficiency in safety for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Though driving is by far the most common method of transportation, it has many drawbacks that are overlooked. One of the most serious consequences of people regularly commuting by car is the number and severity of traffic-related accidents. According to the WHO, approximately 20 million to 50 million road traffic-related accidents occur each year, with 1.3 million deaths. The mortality rate is especially high for pedestrians and cyclists.
Furthermore, driving has a tremendously detrimental impact on the environment. According to the EPA, transportation is responsible for the emissions of nearly 30% of all greenhouse gasses. Problematically, this generates greater pollution compared to other sectors such as industrial plants, agriculture, and electrical plants. According to NASA, greenhouse gasses are responsible for trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a rise in temperature.
Another serious issue with car emissions is their toxicity. Car emissions contain many carcinogenic gasses and particles. According to the Yale School of the Environment, the gasoline sector causes 115,000 premature deaths annually, along with the diesel sector, which accounts for 122,100 premature deaths. This doesn’t even include the effect such emissions have on long-term health and other problems they may cause.
Besides being environmentally conscious, walking and cycling are beneficial in that both can greatly improve physical well-being. According to the CDC, adults require at least 150 minutes of exercise a week. Most adults fail to find the time for the minimum amount of exercise vital to their well-being. As a result, commuting to school or work through walking or cycling is a viable way to ensure that one meets their exercise quota. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the benefits of exercise are extreme, not only for physical well-being but also for mental well-being.
UHS must promote all our interests, not only academic ones. By promoting walking, cycling and public transport alternatives, our school would have a greatly reduced risk of traffic accidents and casualties, pushing students to be more environmentally conscious.
As such, the state should subsidize buses, because although walking or cycling may be preferable, taking the bus is still far better than driving. Making the bus freely accessible also has the additional benefit of aiding families that don’t have money to spare, promoting financial equality at school. Furthermore, according to the National Safety Council in America, the death rate associated with taking the bus is 570 times lower than for passenger vehicles.
Additionally, it is paramount that UHS promotes bike and pedestrian safety. Although walking and cycling are far more conscientious than driving, there is a much higher rate of mortality for pedestrians and cyclists. The safety of cyclists and pedestrians needs to be better protected. This should be done through the increased vigilance of law enforcement at intersections near our high school to deter vehicular perpetrators and promote safety.
Furthermore, UHS could implement a program to inform students of alternative modes of transportation and their benefits. Similar to College and Career programs or Make A Difference Day, simply informing students that there are other modes could lead many to make the change. Logistically, this would be relatively inexpensive for UHS in terms of resources, especially given the tremendous upside of doing so.
The impact of numerous people commuting to school harms society and the well-being of everyone in it. This is primarily due to the inherent mortality associated with motor vehicle transport, their toxicity and the lack of opportunity for exercise in modern society. By implementing good safety guidelines and encouraging students to pursue other modes of transportation, we can improve the overall mental and physical health, safety and environment of our school.
