Print
E-mail
Comment
Letter to the editor
Public transportation crucial to our future
A smart move for Colorado Springs would be to keep all public bus routes running and to add more.
If more residents ride buses, there would be less gas usage, less dependence on foreign oil and fewer national debts. According to the American Public Transportation Association, transit riders can save on average $755 per month. This savings amount is based on the cost of national averages for parking and driving and the Oct. 5, 2009 national average gas price of $2.46 per gallon for gasoline. Increasing bus ridership would lead to fewer cars on the road, and that would decrease carbon dioxide emissions greatly.
An average car with one driver emits 1.10 pounds per passenger of carbon dioxide while a bus three-fourth full of passengers emits 0.26 of carbon dioxide. That is a difference of 76 percent less carbon dioxide emitted by mass transit. Even though we are not of age to drive, our Smart Moves Team called the “Oddomobiles” is learning and applying our knowledge to help our environment and to reduce Colorado Springs’ carbon footprint.
Our parents pay taxes for public services such as police and firefighters. Thankfully our families don’t use these services every day, but when we need them, the services are available. The same should be said for public transportation.
There are plans under way to remove this necessary transportation from our lower-income and disabled residents, many of whom rely solely on the public transit system for transportation. We need to think of all of the above and do what is right for the future of Colorado Springs’ local environment, citizens and our future transportation system.
Antelope Trails fifth-grade Robotics Team
Mary Carrigan
Aaron Ghrist
Madison Pace
Jaden Surface
Austin Borth
Ben Kisley
Nicholas Todtenhagen
A smart move for Colorado Springs would be to keep all public bus routes running and to add more.
If more residents ride buses, there would be less gas usage, less dependence on foreign oil and fewer national debts. According to the American Public Transportation Association, transit riders can save on average $755 per month. This savings amount is based on the cost of national averages for parking and driving and the Oct. 5, 2009 national average gas price of $2.46 per gallon for gasoline. Increasing bus ridership would lead to fewer cars on the road, and that would decrease carbon dioxide emissions greatly.
An average car with one driver emits 1.10 pounds per passenger of carbon dioxide while a bus three-fourth full of passengers emits 0.26 of carbon dioxide. That is a difference of 76 percent less carbon dioxide emitted by mass transit. Even though we are not of age to drive, our Smart Moves Team called the “Oddomobiles” is learning and applying our knowledge to help our environment and to reduce Colorado Springs’ carbon footprint.
Our parents pay taxes for public services such as police and firefighters. Thankfully our families don’t use these services every day, but when we need them, the services are available. The same should be said for public transportation.
There are plans under way to remove this necessary transportation from our lower-income and disabled residents, many of whom rely solely on the public transit system for transportation. We need to think of all of the above and do what is right for the future of Colorado Springs’ local environment, citizens and our future transportation system.
Antelope Trails fifth-grade Robotics Team
Mary Carrigan
Aaron Ghrist
Madison Pace
Jaden Surface
Austin Borth
Ben Kisley
Nicholas Todtenhagen
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. |
