Achieving Healthy Communities Through Transit Equity
Achieving transit equity is significant for a community to distribute fair treatment among the diverse population. In addition, transit equity is a crucial part of a broader concern with transport and mobility justice. However, before coming to the importance of achieving transit equity, let’s talk about a general definition it holds.
Transit equity is when all members of society, people from different socio-economic backgrounds, share the same benefits and costs for public transportation services. The problems with transit equity come about as a result of transit inequity. Transit inequity is when wealthier, or more educated members of society, receive more transportation benefits. In contrast, minority communities (such as communities of color or communities belonging to minority religions) and lower-income households receive fewer transportation benefits or experience the more negative effects of public transportation activities.
Accomplishing transit equity is predominant that benefits an individual and a community as a whole. As much as a person’s health is significant, transit equity is no less. The goal is to make transit equity more a reality than an idea.
The Importance of Transit Equity
The importance of transit equity cannot be denied in a developed society. Transit equity is directly linked to the upward mobility of progress. Equal access for impoverished community members to public services like employment, education, and healthcare has proven necessary and highly beneficial for societies to flourish. So why should public transportation be neglected?
The ultimate goal of transit equity is to provide disadvantaged and lower-income communities access to affordable and reliable public transportation. A more excellent transitional connectivity reduces the time it takes to commute to and from work and provides safer travel options. Such improvements always better serve marginalized communities and greatly enhance their quality and living standards.
How to attain Transit Equity
There lies a magnificent bond between public transportation and health. Here, health refers to both an individual’s and a community’s. Therefore, a pleasant knot must be tied between transportation and equity for a healthier environment amid cities and states. Almost 20 to 30% of people spend their hard-earned money on transportation, yet making them deserving of receiving an equitable transportation system with safer and affordable facilities.
To do justice and balance the equation, the U.S department of transportation has outlined a blueprint for ensuring improvements in transit equity.
- The transportation decision-making process would include full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities.
- Give a wide berth, reduce or mitigate disproportionally severe and adverse effects of environment and health on communities of color and populations with low-income.
- Forestall the repudiation of, decrease in, or critical deferral in the receipt of advantages by communities of color and low-pay populaces networks.
However, buy-in at the local level also holds the cheese cake to serve. Transit equity can be set on priority by the city government; a healthy lifestyle knocks low-income residents by ensuring they get handy to services they warrant. Moreover, the employees should receive perks of public transportation from their employers, a way for organizations to contribute to the community’s well-being.
To escort changes corroborating transit equity does not happen promptly. Reforming the entire system and contributing towards achieving a healthier community in the vicinity of transit equity has many moving parts. Over time, emerging technologies and government support expect to bring about progressive change in shaping transit equity. Accessible, affordable, and safe rideshares are the right of everyone living in a community; hence fair distribution is requisite.
