Yeah, I know. A high schooler advocating for public transportation is extremely hypocritical. Taking public transportation won’t always work out (and is near impossible in the Issaquah School District thanks to overcrowded buses), but we should start taking the bus when we go into Seattle instead of contributing the the pollution plaguing the US.
Now, the Issaquah/Renton/Bellevue infrastructure isn’t really supportive of public transportation, but that’s just a consequence of living in the suburbs. So what can one do to take PT and reduce their carbon footprint? Well, carpooling and taking the bus can be a start. And while I know that the buses are nightmarish and overcrowded, they’re a consistent mode. And you don’t even have to drive. If taking the bus isn’t your cup of tea, then try carpooling. You may have to get some random people together, but it means less money spent on gas and less of a carbon footprint. Also, you can drive with your buddies. So that’s a win-win.
But seriously, teenagers seem to have some sort of allergic reaction whenever they’re faced with the prospect of not driving. I know it’s an integral part of being a teenager, but the way we individually drive is essentially pointless. Unless there is no other way to transport yourself from point A to B, you should be searching for alternative, less carbon-spewy ways.
Once again, it’s completely hypocritical that I, a teenager who is very passionate about not taking the bus, is telling other people that they should be taking public transportation. It’s something I, along with just about everyone here at Liberty, needs to work on. Otherwise, we’re being even bigger hypocrites as we decry carbon-spewing vehicles but use them.