Drive Less CT Climate Challenge: Week One

The annual CTrides Drive Less CT Climate Challenge began yesterday. I promised to give a reason for people to participate, so here it is:

Riding the bus is good for you.

I know some don’t find buses as sexy as trains, or at all, but in a game of date, marry, and divorce my choice would be date the train, marry the bus, and divorce the car. Why? Of these three, the bus is flexible enough to meet most daily needs while remaining a generally responsible and reliable choice.

That’s not, however, why I am saying that riding the bus is good for you.

I’ve previously written about the World of the Bus, and will put it another way: riding public transit will restore your faith in humanity.

A story:

On a recent trip, passengers seated at the front of the bus were deep in conversation with each other. Several had mobility devices and most were headed to the same medical facility, though it was clear that up until about ten minutes ago, they had all been strangers. One had just lost her phone before boarding the bus. Fellow passengers offered her advice for how to go about canceling/pausing accounts that were linked to her phone, and how to get a replacement government phone. Another passenger allowed her to use their phone to make a few calls — one to see if anyone answered her missing phone, and then another to a family member so they did not worry about why she was not answering.

From there, their conversation covered an array of other topics. Various personal experiences and struggles were shared. When it was time for riders to exit at their stops, they wished each other good luck with their respective medical appointments.

So often, people say that they drive rather than take the bus because of convenience; I think they are missing the point entirely. The generosity and camaraderie shared by those riding the bus is unmatched. Being in this atmosphere erodes cynicism, if you pay attention.

It is not too late to get started with this challenge; I will be giving you a different reason each week of the challenge for why you may want to participate.