Los Angeles MTA - Take the Bus, It's Good for Us

For the majority of the past two years I have been without a car. I drove for the months of July and August in 2009 but it was short lived. My car met its ultimate demise on the 110 S when I was cut off by a 2008 White BMW 335i. I slammed on the brakes and the rest was history, I fishtailed into the center divide, crossing three lanes of traffic (luckily not hitting anybody) and totaled the car instantly. I only had liability insurance so there would be no replacement vehicle. I was back to the bus.

Now, I've never been in an accident while being on the bus, I've never had to pay $3.50 for a gallon of gas for the bus, no insurance bills due, maintenance, registration, smog check, the list goes on. So why do we all insist on driving in Los Angeles? On the freeway I see people in their cars, four seat sedans with lone drivers are common. What astonishes me is the sight of an SUV with a soccer mom and no children! I don't want to go into the history of why we aren't all taking trolleys to and from work, but I am going to make a case as to why maybe you should use the bus, a valuable asset which many of us overlook.

For starters, in Los Angeles bus fare is cheap, $1.25 one way or $5 for an all-day pass with a Tap Card. I don't know any car that will get you everywhere you need to go in one day for $5. We pay more than $5 a day on gas, don't even factor in miles, maintenance, care payment, insurance, etc. From my own experience I've always been able to get where I needed to go by taking the bus. It does take a lot longer to commute, maybe two or three times longer but if you have nothing else to do, why not take a leisurely ride on the bus, read a book or write an article for Associated Content.

The low cost of taking the bus should be enough to get most people on it right? Wrong, so why don't people like the bus? Maybe because it's noisy, it's slow, people have to walk a little bit after they get to their stop, it doesn't have a nice stereo. Whatever the reason, ask yourself if those are things you really need. A little more exercise wouldn't hurt, neither would free hands to text your friends or any other task you would like to do while commuting but can't while driving. Best of all, it's a green alternative. The bus is going to run with or without you, by leaving your car at home and taking the bus you're actually doing something good for your fellow man, especially in Los Angeles where Asthma caused by low air quality is the one of the most prevalent sicknesses affecting our community.

This weekend, take the bus to the mall, or wherever you need to go, take a book and enjoy yourself. You may have to walk a little bit, but as a nation we're not doing enough walking anyway. Save some green and do something green.