By SLCgreen Intern Iris Tang
Brijette Williams, Sustainability Outreach Coordinator, lives in the suburbs but works and goes to school in Salt Lake City. She commutes by public transit as much as possible because it makes her travel time feel “valuable and productive.”
Instead of getting stuck in traffic on I-15, she can check emails, make lists for the day, or unwind without the stress of being behind the wheel.
Choosing to swap your car trip for a transit trip can help improve air quality and mitigate summer ozone. It’s also a great way to participate in this month’s Clear the Air Challenge, which encourages us all to take fewer single-occupancy car trips.
Here are some reasons to consider taking transit more often and tips to get started.
Benefit of Transit
1) Give Your Car a Break
When asked why Brijette prefers taking public transit over her car, she had many reasons. One of the biggest is that she values her car. “There’s less wear and tear on my car and less mileage.” She noted that taking TRAX also feels safer, especially during rush hour when she feels she is putting herself (and her car) at higher risk for an accident.
2) Save Money
Another bonus for taking transit is saving money on gas! For Brijette, taking transit even a few times a week has noticeably impacted how often she needs to refill her tank. That said, transit comes with its own costs. If the price of fares has you questioning whether it’s worth the gas savings, here are a few things to consider:
- First, check in with your employer to see if they offer a free or subsidized transit pass (Salt Lake City offers a full UTA transit pass to our employees!)
- Second, check out discount programs like the Hive Pass for Salt Lake City residents which offers a half-off pass, or the Reduced Fare FAREPAY card available to seniors, youth, persons with disability, or those who are income qualified. Salt Lake City is also offering free passes to all Salt Lake City School District students, staff, and one parent/guardian.
- Finally, even signing up for a standard reloadable FAREPAY card can save you 20% off on most fares.
Downtown Salt Lake City also has a Free Fare Zone! Keep in mind this only applies to traveling inside the zone — fares still apply to those getting on or off outside of the zone.
3) Stay Connected
Other than the economic benefits, Brijette also likes taking TRAX because it helps her become more connected to her community. When you’re outside of a car you’re more likely to think, “maybe I will walk to that shop on the way home.” Brijette also appreciates running into friends or coworkers on the train.
4) No Parking? No Problem
Another benefit of taking public transit is the convenience. You can avoid the hassle of an endless search for parking or getting caught in rush hour. Getting into an air-conditioned bus or train car is also much nicer than returning to a car after it’s been sitting in the sun all day.
Making Transit Work for You
Starting to use public transit can be intimidating. Many don’t know what routes to take or fear they’ll miss one stop and be thrown completely off course. Although public transit takes more planning than hopping in your car, once you familiarize yourself with the system it can become just as easy. Brijette uses Google Maps and the Transit app to plan out her trips.
UTA’s online schedule is a great resource for planning routes, and the Transit app allows you to track real-time arrivals.
Accessibility can be another issue; not all areas have convenient access to a train station or bus stop. Brijette recently moved, and now the nearest Trax station is two miles from her house. She’s considering buying a bike to get to the station to stay emissions free. Driving your car to a station is still an alternative; using transit for a portion of your trip still reduces carbon emissions.
Even when public transit isn’t as convenient, a factor that encourages Brijette is her commitment to environmentalism. She explains, “I feel like this is a way I can do my part in helping the environment and trying not to contribute to bad air quality in the valley.”
The hardest part of using public transit is going out of your way to prepare and take a trip for the first time. If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask a UTA employee for help. Once you become familiar with a route public transit can have just as many benefits as taking your own car.
Parting Advice
Brijette’s biggest piece of advice for taking public transit is to “be patient and keep trying.” It’s best to arrive early to avoid missing a connection. For those who don’t take public transportation and are hesitant to start, you can test it out by using it to get to an event rather than for your daily commute.
Taking public transportation doesn’t have to be all or nothing; even committing to use public transportation once a week instead of driving makes a difference! By being more conscious of your trips and considering when you can use alternative transportation you can make an impact on our air quality. Check out the Travelwise tracker to see the difference your transit trips make!