Public transportation is an immediate way to conserve energy and support our environment. People who use public transportation and/or carpools remove single-passenger vehicles from the road, which leads to improved air quality, stimulation of local economies and business centers, reduce road congestion, and lessens environmental damage.

• If one in 10 Americans used public transportation regularly, the U.S. reliance on foreign oil could be cut by more than 40%, which translates to the amount of oil we import from Saudi Arabia each year.
• The National Safety Council estimates that riding the bus is over 170 times safer than automobile travel.
• Emissions from road vehicles are the largest contributors to smog.
• For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation is twice as fuel efficient as private automobiles.
• Public transportation use lowers household expenses and frees up more income for other needs.
• One-fourth of today’s 75+ age group does not drive, making  public transportation a lifeline for older adults.

Note: Information was adapted from the American Public Transportation Association’s “Facts on Public Transportation”.

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