Why American public transit is so bad | 2020 Election

Most Americans have no choice but to drive. How do we change that?

In the middle of the 20th century, the US government made a decision that would transform American cities: It built a huge system of interstate highways, many of which went right through the downtowns of its biggest cities.

This sealed the country's fate as a car culture, and today we're seeing the results. In most cities, it's extremely difficult to get around without a car, in part due to public transit systems built to serve an outdated commute. And when our politics turn to infrastructure, the government often favors building new roads and highways instead of improving and expanding public transportation.

The result is a system that forces more Americans to drive, at the expense of those who rely on public transit. It's also the biggest contributor to our country’s carbon footprint. Fixing that over the long term will require a reimagining of American cities and towns. But there's also a way that, if we wanted to, we could improve American transit systems, and get more people riding them, in a matter of weeks.

This was the seventh in our series of 2020 election explainers, all based on viewer suggestions. Watch the others, which cover the stakes of the election on:

[michallacki]

I also hate how a lot of Americans look down on people using public transport like they're worse

[kpopRC]

if you're comparing to toronto transit. those other cities must be REALLY BAD....

[goranstojanovski]

"A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transportation."
Gustavo Petro - Mayor of Bogota

[famousamos]

Living in Seoul, South Korea - I was spoiled with how amazing the Subway metro system was and even today, it still costs about $1!

[timedone]

When Toronto is used as an example of good public transit, you know things have gone seriously wrong..

[TheCJUN]

American city planning is like someone playing SimCity half-heartedly.

[BlackSaiyan]

I just spent a week in Italy, and I’m shocked at how you can easily navigate cities and regions with buses, subways, and trains. We didn’t step in a car once in 8 days.

[ceceyam]

I used to think Toronto’s public transit was awful (still have those days, tbh). And Torontonians love to complain about our transit system. As someone who has lived in Japan and spent months through East Asia, SE Asia and Western Europe, Toronto’s public transit is very poorly run in comparison.

BUT every time I attempt to use public transit in some major US cities, I’m always grateful for what we have in Toronto. Even at the edge of the city where it’s mostly residential, you can count on a TTC bus arriving within 10 minutes (2-3 minutes during rush hour). Buses aren’t trains, they get stuck in traffic and are often uncomfortable, but they at least get us moving and (eventually) get us to a subway station.

[hih]

it’s so funny how americans always say “this is pure fantasy & not realistic” about concepts that literally every other highly developed country has

[Dekedence]

Vox could make this a series called "things European and Asian countries figured out decades ago"

[jessicalizarraga]

I moved to Phoenix AZ 4 years ago from Mexico and that was one big cultural shock. I remember wanting to explore the city but it took me so little to realize that is imposible if you don't own a car. You are forced to buy a car then you end up with montly payments and you are also forced to pay insurance and pay for maintenance if your car breaks. Owning a car should be optional not imperative

[brian]

Negative feedback loop: few people rely on public transportation because it's not good, it's not good due to lack of funding, there's lack of funding due to few people relying on public transportation.

[MyName-frnf]

People from Toronto literally complain about the public transit at least 3 times a day. Seeing it being used an example here is actually shocking.
Source: I'm people from Toronto.

[tomasgonzalez]

Jonathan: "A bus that comes every 30 minutes till"
European: "I lost my bus. The next one comes in 3 minutes. Too much time"

[Spacesnakes]

Having lived in Seoul for a very short time, coming back to America's completely ineffective public transit is a nightmare

[jaridkeen]

American cities were beautiful until we destroyed them for highways

[hqsppie]

Most of America: What’s having a train?
New York City: What’s having a car?

[MarinelliBrosPodcast]

Anything worse than the Canadian transit system is not a system.

[noumanintown]

I’ve lived in Vancouver and Toronto and gotten by for years without needing a car. Visiting family and friends in Chicago and Dallas suburbs and finding out that the nearest convenience store to buy a soda or some cigarettes is 3 miles away just feels like a strange way to live.

[eikuikenkip]

I can't imagine living in a place where they make it impossible for you to commute without a car. Here in the Netherlands, lots of people cycle and/or use public transit. I cycle to the train station, take the train and then cycle to work. Total of 40 minutes, door to door. Easy peasy.

I don't even have a car, but I do have three bikes (one for my home town, one for the town where I work and one for recreation). If I need a car, I can borrow my parents'.

Of course, the Dutch are the best at complaining, so we complain about our public transit system all the time :)