Transportation

When I first started this graduate program, I was amazed with how big public transportation is in San Francisco. In Stockton, my hometown, public transportation is not as big and could be better in my opinion. The majority of Stockton residents drive their own car and public transportation is usually only utilized by the low income. The only time I actually used public transportation was when I was living in Chico, CA during my undergraduate program. Chico is a college town where everyone rides their bus or bike. I had my own car and would still ride my bike or take the bus whenever I could. However, now that I am back in my hometown, I solely rely on my car. The reason behind this is because my hometown is a community that has a high dependence on automobiles and is not environmentally built for alternative modes of transportation.

After reading this weeks readings, it made me realize that using public transportation can actually be beneficial to my health. Organizations should promote health by encouraging activities that use alternative transportation such as bike-to-work events. It was very interesting to read that those who live by highways are at higher risk for respiratory conditions. Public transportation is not only good for your health but also to the environment because it produces less carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and less carbon dioxide compared to private cars. Because public transportation has been found to benefit health, reduce social inequalities, and lower the risk of obesity, transportation policy should work towards implementing policies that improve public transportation so that more people can use it. In conclusion, as the reading stated, transportation policy should improve public health rather than hider it.