With public transit becoming ever more popular throughout Europe it begs the question of why America has not joined the bandwagon? For a country that has a military budget of roughly 1.73 trillion USD in 2023, a lack of funds is not a viable excuse. Maybe it can be dismissed as a flaw of democracy; i.e. the masses are against it so the government must not even deign to implement it. But this too would not be a proper explanation, with most studies showing that Americans tend to be relatively open to the implication of alternative, government-owned methods of transport. 

Regardless of the reason, it is apparent that Americans must begin voicing their opinions louder (protests) so as to insure the government listens. A biased upper-class in cohort with blind, arrogant, and possibly corrupt politicians stands as an ever-present barrier between the people and progress. Political inactivity, coupled with an oligopoly that tempts powerful individuals to be complicit with ruling politicians, is responsible for the lack of progress in a society that aches for change while simultaneously attempting to convince the audience that public transit in the U.S. is a must. 

It is no secret that America is a car-centric society consumed by lethargic suburbs that provide nearby urban centers with a workforce. According to the DOT all modes of transportation account for 29% of the U.S.’s entire yearly greenhouse gas emissions. Of those, 57% are directly caused by cars, SUVs, and pickups. In other words, roughly 16.53% of all yearly greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. come from personal vehicles. With imposing goals set on greenhouse gas emissions to prevent a significant increase in global temperature so as to avoid the worst effects of global warming, it is clear that we must begin looking to public transport. 

It should come as no surprise that public transport has proven itself to be far more efficient than private transport. Not only does it have the capability to transport more people at once thus not necessitating a nervous system of highways which can disrupt local ecosystems and are susceptible to traffic, but, it also emits less greenhouse gas emissions per passenger per mile traveled. In fact, at the moment the DOT estimates that bus transit emits 33% lower greenhouse emissions per passenger despite the fact that public buses tend to be about only 28% full or 72% percent empty on average. Imagine how much more efficient it would be if it were reliable and, consequently, used more frequently. With one of the least efficient modes of public transit having proven itself to be far more efficient than cars there is clearly no plausible argument to be sustained about the sustainability of private transit over public transit. 

Beyond preventing climate change, public transit also benefits those with lesser means or even families of average means. Cars do not come cheap, often costing anywhere from 15,000 USD to 60,000 USD when brand new. When purchased, their price can drop down to just a few thousand USD but then maintenance becomes an issue, often costing at least a few hundred dollars a month. Understandably these hefty fees are dreaded by families that also need to pay for food, rent (or a mortgage), and a myriad of different expenses. Public transport often proves to be significantly cheaper than owning a car as you needn’t pay for things such as insurance, oil changes, gas, etc. 

Improving and adding bus lines, trains, and other forms of public transport would not only help those that currently use cars as there are many that rely on public transport even in the U.S. In New York City, the subway system is known to be in a state of despair despite the fact that a good portion of the city relies on public transit to go to work. Repair work which the New York Times estimated might cost roughly 100 billion USD stares hauntingly at politicians and the city who use this as an excuse to avoid fixing the system. But, if the system ever fails, New York’s roughly 1.8 trillion dollar economy would be crippled. In fact, it is estimated the collapse of the lines connecting New Jersey to New York might alone be responsible for a loss of 10% of the United State’s entire GDP. Putting off repairs and refusing to implement smoother and better functioning systems comes with a threat of crippling the national economy and triggering a national depression, possibly akin to or even greater than the Great Depression. 

Reports from Johns Hopkins have found that, in the Baltimore area (and likely in other metropoles), transportation inequities can void people of color and those in other minority communities of opportunities that are otherwise accessible. This is an immediate effect of the outdated public transit system which, by never changing, allows relics of the past in which practices such as redlining and other forms of segregation were ever-present. While it is true that many immoral policies which purposefully create inequities have been abolished, it is also true that we must go further than preventing such practices from being committed again if we wish to reap the fruit of equality. When the systems which were implemented in the 1950s are the same systems we use today then it only makes sense that the discriminatory policies used in the 50s find a way to continue to oppress. 

It is clear that the inadequacy of public transit within the United States is fundamentally caused by a lack of funding, but, one must ask, what causes the lack of funding which so clearly benefits our society? In reality, this fundamental issue can be attributed to mainly one thing: corporations with deep pockets. 

Lobbyists spend years forming their case, providing politicians and the public with information that benefits their cause and funding studies which might further their cause but, more often they might choose to act directly by giving out money. As it would be illegal to do so directly, many lobbyists attempt to do so indirectly, often by making hefty donations to election or reelection campaigns. Simply because they do not pay for a specific act to occur, it is not considered bribery. 

Ever since it became apparent that cars could be profitable, there have been lobbyists hired by the car and oil industries—which would be crippled if society as a whole started favoring public transit. One particularly prominent and well used example is that of Koch industries and the Koch brothers. Greenpeace reports that since 1998 Koch Industries has spent roughly 79 million dollars on lobbying, the majority of this being used to go against laws favoring public transit, and laws which might in some way limit gas consumption. This money is used to fund ads, donate to politicians, and attempt to convince people that the interests of Koch Industries are their interests in almost every way possible. Koch industries aren’t even the most prominent sponsors when it comes to lobbying with ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips having spent 192, 188, 171, 105, and 91 million dollars (in the same period) respectively. With so much money being spent on lobbying its efficacy, the lack of practical public transit is no surprise and, if we do not take action soon it will be no surprise if we never get public transport that is reliable and actually works. 

While the task may seem daunting, there are many things that you (as an ordinary, American citizen (or even a foreign citizen)) can do to aid America in its plight. One of the most effective things one can do is simply raise awareness about the issue, after all, lobbying often relies on convincing the masses to vote on policies that align with the lobbyist’s interests. This can be done by participating in protests, simply discussing the subject with your peers, researching the topic yourself, or helping organizations that exist to try and counter lobbyists. However you decide to help (or even if you decide to sit idly by on this particular issue), remember that all governments, no matter where you are, rely on the people for their power and, if the people never voice their opinion then they are not free.