Providence, RI – I’m Vinh, a student at Brown University studying Urban Studies. I grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia, a suburban area where getting around without a car was almost impossible. My interest in public transportation started in high school when I realized how few options there were for students who couldn’t drive. I remember walking home along a two-lane road with no sidewalks because there was no bus service to my neighborhood. That experience made me want to learn more about making transit more equitable and accessible.
At Brown, I rely on public transit every day. I take the RIPTA buses to do errands in Seekonk, Massachusetts, to mentor students on environmental justice at a local high school, and use the commuter rail to Boston for day trips with friends. Brown covers the cost of our bus passes, which is the only way I could afford to get around.
The problem is, public transit here can be unreliable and infrequent. Buses often run late, and I’ve been “ghosted”—when the bus just doesn’t show up—more than once. Even worse, the commuter rail only runs every two hours on weekends, so if you miss a train, you’re stuck waiting, sometimes in the cold with no indoor waiting areas. I’ve had to kill time at coffee shops just to stay warm, and that’s not something everyone can afford to do.
More frequent buses and clearer information at bus stops would make a huge difference. Sometimes, you get to a stop without a sign or schedule—just a pole. If you didn’t grow up using transit, it’s almost like you need a manual to figure it out.
If I could tell Congress one thing, it would be this: invest in frequency. Reliable, frequent transit isn’t just about getting from one place to another—it’s about freedom and opportunity, especially for young people who don’t have cars. Without good public transit, you’re stuck relying on rideshares, which are expensive and unsustainable.
Public transit should be treated as a right, not a last resort. If we want to build equitable cities, it starts with making transit better for everyone.