4 – Forming An Opportunity Belief

Public transportation in Gainesville is extremely inefficient. There is an unmet need for safe, reliable, and efficient public transportation.  As vehicles on the roads increase, so due the number of traffic related accidents, which spells danger to Gainesville residents and students. According to an article, “More Urbanites, More Cars: The Challenge of Urban Safety and Health,” the number of traffic related deaths reached 1.2 million deaths worldwide in the year 2013. In addition to the health and safety concern, more cars on the roads means more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. An efficient public transportation system would reduce the carbon footprint of Gainesville, as well as the energy needed to widen roads with the trends of increasing vehicles. With a more efficient transportation system, Gainesville residents and students can rely on an efficient bus system or rail system as an alternative to driving. This is the case in many European countries, where buses are given an entire lane priority and metro rail systems quickly transport passengers long distances. Right now, more people are driving cars and the city of Gainesville is building more roads. I am 100% sure that this opportunity to prioritize an effective public transportation system is needed.

#1: Middle-aged Gainesville resident:

-       What is your primary method of transportation in Gainesville?

I drive my car everywhere. I work far from where I live.

-       How often do you take the bus, and do you think it can be more efficient?

I almost never take the bus. I can definitely be more efficient.

-       Have you noticed the roads in Gainesville being more dangerous?

Absolutely. There has been a lot of construction. I couldn’t tell you a week, I haven’t seen an accident.

-       When do you take the bus and when do you choose to drive instead?

I mainly drive because there aren’t bus stops that are convenient for me.

-       Do you use any other method of transportation other than a bus or a car?

Not usually.

-       Do you believe that buses should have their own lane?

I’m not sure how that would work, but that’s an interesting idea.

Reflection: Gainesville residents who aren’t a student at UF don’t take the bus as much. The current bus system in Gainesville prioritizes UF students, which makes taking the bus not a viable option. If the system was more efficient throughout Gainesville, residents would be able to rely on public transportation to get to work and wherever they need to go.

#2: Early twenties University of Florida student with a car:

-       What is your primary method of transportation in Gainesville?

Mainly my car, bus I take the bus to campus sometimes, honestly, I carpool a lot as well.

-       What is your experience parking on campus?

It’s terrible. Trash.

-       How often do you take the bus, and do you think it can be more efficient?

I take the bus a few times a week. It can definitely be more efficient. Sometimes students are too crammed in and all standing really close to each other. It makes me really uncomfortable, so I actually avoid it. Also, it takes forever to get home after class.

-       When do you take the bus and when do you choose to drive instead?

I only take the bus home from campus if I can’t get a ride from my friends, and I choose to drive on the weekends when I run errands.

-       Do you use any other method of transportation other than a bus or a car?

Yes, I bike to the grocery store sometimes, and I Uber to downtown on the weekends.

-       Do you believe that buses should have their own lane?

Yes! That would be amazing, but I don’t think it’ll happen.

Reflection: An efficient public transportation system would allow a UF student to choose to ride the bus more often than driving and carpooling, which would minimize the health and safety concern associated with more cars on the road.

#3: Early twenties University of Florida student without a car:

-       What is your primary method of transportation in Gainesville?

I mainly take the bus or walk everywhere. I work and live close to campus.

-       How often do you take the bus, and do you think it can be more efficient?

I always take the bus in the mornings and in the afternoon to get everywhere.

-       Do you use any other method of transportation other than a bus?

I have a bike, but I don’t use it much. I have a longboard as well, but that can get tiring.

-       Do you believe that buses should have their own lane?

Yeah, that would be great. It would definitely encourage more people to take the bus, and there would be buses more often.

Reflection: UF students who live close to campus rely less on transportation in general. These students would probably benefit the least from a more efficient public transportation system. Regardless, they would benefit from the reduced carbon footprint of the area.

Summary:

I personally believe an efficient transportation system in Gainesville would be a simple solution to the growing threats and energy needed to continue to adapt to a city with more cars. I was in Paris and Amsterdam recently and their public transportation system is so efficient that even residents with cars choose to take the bus and metro instead because it is faster than driving. These cities also have less parking garages and less urban space devoted to cars. Instead, they are able to have more green spaces. Roads in the United States are tailored for cars and much of the urban space is growing roads.

https://www.wri.org/blog/2013/02/more-urbanites-more-cars-challenge-urban-road-safety-and-health