Anchorage, AK – I grew up in suburban Chicago, where there wasn’t much public transit, and everyone relied on cars. But I’ve always cared about conservation, so I never bought a car and instead made my way on bikes and transit. Now, living in Juneau, Alaska, I’m grateful to live in a place where I can still get around without a car. I take the bus to work daily, and while the system isn’t perfect, it gets me to most places I need to go. And I get to ride the bus for free these days because my husband is a senior citizen!
Getting to my bus stop can be tricky, especially in winter. My route has no sidewalks, making walking icy roads a bit dangerous, especially in the dark. My bus stop has a shelter, which is nice given how often it rains here, but many other stops don’t—so people are left out in the weather, which can be rough in Juneau.
One of the best parts of riding the bus is the sense of community. I meet people I wouldn’t otherwise cross paths with, including many from Juneau’s native Alaskan community, and that’s a big part of why I appreciate public transit. Programs like the Poetry Omnibus, which is a local juried poetry contest where winning entries have the honor of being displayed on city buses for one year, also add a nice touch and make transit feel like a unique connection to others.
I think the transit system could be improved by adding more service on Sundays and new routes to places without good transit connections today, like the Valley Library and Dimond Park swimming pool.
We can’t just keep adding more and more cars to the road, even if they run on fairy dust! Over the years we’ve given way too much of our landscape to automobiles and parking lots. This is just not a sustainable situation. I’d like to see decision-makers invest in public transit that is frequent, reliable, affordable, and efficient. We don’t have to rely on private cars, and by investing in transit, we can create more connected communities and reduce our climate impact.