22+ Pros And Cons Of Public Transportation

Today, the use of public transport is becoming popular due to many reasons. One of the most important reasons for this is that using public transport will help people to contribute towards a cleaner environment. There are many who cannot drive or afford a car and public transport allows them to travel from one place to another at a very affordable rate.

Using public transport will decrease traffic congestion and reduce the consumption of non-renewable fuels like petrol and diesel. When you are traveling on public transport you do not have to focus on the road and you can use this time to do anything you like.

Advantages of Public Transport	Disadvantages of Public Transport
You can be productive	You have to travel with others
Good for the environment	Waiting time
Save money and resources	Can get very crowded
Helps foster social interaction between people	Can be quite unsafe at times
Provides job opportunities for many	Most of the time public transport is not available door to door
Less traffic congestion	Very rare in some places

The Advantages Of Using Public Transport

You can be productive:

You have to focus on the road while driving your own vehicle. But you can read a book, finish your incomplete work, listen to music or just stare out of the window when you are using public transport.

Traveling in public transport allows you to be productive because it does not need you to pay attention to anything else and if you get a seat, you can definitely concentrate on some urgent work.

Good for the environment:

If more people are traveling in public transport then the number of cars being used will definitely reduce. The consumption of petrol and diesel will also decrease. Therefore, there will be less pollution.

The emission of greenhouse gases will be reduced as there will be less number of cars to produce it.

are public transport good for the environment

Save money and resources:

This is applicable at individual levels and in society at large. As public transport is subsidized by the government, it is cheaper than private vehicles. Traveling in public transport also decreases the traveling cost per person.

When fewer private vehicles are being used, the use of resources like petrol and diesel also gets reduced. This helps in preserving non-renewable resources.

is public transport beneficial for saving money

Helps foster social interactions between people:

If we travel by public transport, it provides us a chance to interact and to talk with people. You will be able to learn about the other passengers and these social interactions can go a long way to contribute to those everyday joys.

Provides job opportunities:

Public transport creates job opportunities for many people. Since there are a lot of buses, trams, taxis, and trains, many people are able to get jobs as drivers, conductors, and mechanics. The more you use public transport, the better it is for these people, whose livelihoods depend upon this sector.

Less traffic congestion:

Any public transport can accommodate several people at once. This does not happen in private vehicles. Therefore, if more people begin to use public transport, then there will be fewer private vehicles on the road, and the overall number of vehicles at any given time will decrease. This will help in controlling and reducing traffic congestion.

Disadvantages Of Using Private Transport

You have to travel with others:

When you are traveling by public transport, you have to share your ride with other people. You might come across some people with very bad attitudes that are definitely going to have a negative impact. You can even get stuck talking to someone when you have some work to do.

Waiting time:

One of the disadvantages of using public transport is that you have to follow a specific schedule, especially for buses, trains or trams. This will include waiting time. You have to wait longer for the bus or train to arrive. You have to pass multiple stops even when you are in a hurry.

public transport has a long waiting line

Can get very crowded:

During office hours, public transport, usually buses, trains, and trams are very crowded. There are not enough seats for all the passengers. It becomes very difficult for older people to travel in public transport during these hours.

It is also a very difficult situation for people who have claustrophobia or breathing troubles. A crowded vehicle can lead to lightheadedness and nausea.

Can be quite unsafe:

Using public transport might not always be the safest option. You can have your pocket picked or your purse was stolen in a very crowded bus. At times people, mostly women, are victims of sexual harassment on public transport and such an experience will be quite traumatizing.

Also, apart from these safety issues, with terrorism on the rise, public transport have been target of several attacks.

Most of the time public transport is not available door to door:

Public transports are mostly not available door-to-door. You have to walk to the nearby bus stop or subway station. While most young people do not have a problem, older people will find it difficult to walk the distance between their home and the bus stop or station.

This is also very inconvenient for differently-abled people. They are often unable to avail public transport due to these difficulties.

Very rare in some areas:

While public transport is available in urban areas, rural areas might not have enough buses or trains. Public transport cannot reach all areas and this is a problem for people trying to reach remote areas.

Several parts remain inaccessible via public transport. Certain rural areas have very few buses or trains and you might have to wait for a long time before you can board one.

There are obviously both positive and negative sides to using public transport. On the one hand, people can save money, deal with much less traffic and also work towards a healthier environment. On the other, there are many problems that people face while traveling on public transport.

The decision to use public transport, therefore, depends on various things. Private transport is not affordable for all, but then again, public transport can prove to be unsafe, inaccessible, or inconvenient. However, if you do not face these issues, then it is better to use public transport than rely on private vehicles.