Transport systems in today’s age have been deemed to be overwhelming — particularly in terms of consuming scarce and expensive space. For the past years, the private car has actually been the predominant form of transportation. Thus, the vast, expanding cities are now severely polluted and congested as a result. In addition to traffic congestion and the loss of urban space caused by the growth of roads, city officials are concerned about air pollution as a threat to public health and the release of carbon emissions accelerating the trend of global warming.
The situation in the world’s megacities is on the edge of what humans can handle. One could argue that some go much further than what is human. Globally speaking, the situation is unsustainable. The private car and our propensity to use it for commuting are the primary offenders. But then, you could discover that driving is not always the greatest option on a personal level. For instance, the price of gas and auto maintenance could soon mount. The large number of fatal accidents on the highway is also terrifying to think about.
This being said, there are alternative transport systems you can opt for — safer, more convenient, and may even cost less than what you get from private cars. Read on to learn more.
Motorcycle Taxis
Traffic congestion can actually be reduced by motorcycle taxis. All those four-wheeled people movers would require a lot less space on the roadways if they were all motorbikes, which would result in less congestion and faster-moving traffic. Cities all over the world will only continue to expand, so adding more cars to the roadways is not a long-term answer. Although adding motorcycles is not ideal, it is the preferable choice of transport systems given the alternatives.
The more motorbikes people have, the safer it is to ride them. The comparatively small number of motorbikes and scooters now being utilized to move around cities are currently at a road safety disadvantage. Riding a motorbike among a sea of cars can be a risky venture. If your only means of defense is a helmet, getting struck by a two-ton chunk of metal can definitely ruin your day. However, the risk of becoming a hood ornament on an SUV whose driver has a secret desire of sideswiping motorcyclists decreases the more bikers there are on the road.
Furthermore, one of the major advantages motorcycles have over four-wheeled ride-hailing choices is the relatively low cost of ownership. In recent years, ludicrous surge pricing has not only made Grab vehicle passengers more and more irate; the drivers themselves also experience financial difficulties.
Bicycles
Walking is not always an option, either because you are in a rush or your location is a little bit away. Consider biking in these circumstances rather than hopping in the car. Compared to cars, bikes are far less expensive to purchase, maintain, and store. They also take up less room. Additionally, you can easily get through traffic congestion, making it potentially a speedier option during rush hour.
In addition, biking is even more energy-efficient than driving. According to some estimations, riding is 50 times more energy-efficient than driving and is one of the most resource-efficient modes of transportation ever created by mankind. Also, in comparison to cars, bikes require fewer resources to produce and do not pollute the air or contribute to global warming.
Buses
Many people commute everyday distances that make it either impossible or impractical to walk or ride a bike. Since bicycling and walking put you in the path of inclement weather, it is possible that biking or walking might be too difficult during stormy days, hot summers, and frigid winters.
The bus, however, might still be a desirable option to a car in these situations. It is definitely worthwhile to opt for a bus route if you are fortunate enough to have one close by. Buses and other forms of public transit, as opposed to driving alone, can consume less fuel per passenger and ease traffic congestion. Considering that many regions have lanes set aside for buses or other large capacity vehicles, using the bus could be quicker than driving oneself.
Subways or Metro Train Systems
A mass transportation rail system, such as a subway or metro train system, may be available to you, especially if you reside in or close to an urban region. Mass-transit rail systems can be faster than bus routes even though bus routes often have more stops and are more accessible. This is primarily because rail systems do not have to contend with road traffic congestion.
Although mass transit rail systems cost more up front when compared to bus systems, cities typically consider them to be good long-term investments. Compared to buses, rail systems have a higher passenger capacity per vehicle and generate less noise and air pollution.
Carpooling
Of course, there are still additional options that can make your daily travels more affordable and ecologically friendly if walking, biking, and taking public transportation are not practical possibilities for your commute. Carpooling is one of them; all you have to do is identify people who commute in a similar way and volunteer to travel with them.
Carpooling is a terrific way to save money and feel good about lowering your personal environmental impact because you can split fuel costs and reduce your emissions per person. But then, finding people to carpool with who not only have a similar commute but also a similar work schedule is a difficulty. Some people find it challenging enough to adjust their commute to a bus or rail timetable, but depending on arranging a ride with one or two other people can be very constricting.
Electric Vehicles
An all-electric vehicle is an additional option. The electric automobile struggled to gain momentum with consumers due to its limitations, even though it generated considerable talk in the 1990s as the future’s wave. Compared to gasoline-powered cars, all-electric vehicles are more energy-efficient. In actuality, they produce no pollutants while in use. Electric cars tend to emit less carbon dioxide than conventional cars even though they may ultimately draw their energy from fossil fuel-powered power plants.
Batteries for electric cars, however, are scarce and short-lived. The viability of electric vehicles as a substitute for conventional vehicles may continue to increase as battery technology advances and more charging stations are put in place.
Key Takeaway
Alternative transport systems are key to making cities sustainable. It is evident that there are a lot of cars on the road today, and they provide negative impacts on the city’s economy, population, and the environment as well. But with more people engaging in certain alternative transport systems, the issues and problems arising in the said aspects within the community can be reduced, making the environment a better place to live.
