Newfound Respect for Public Transportation - Grant Sommers

While living in Brussels, I developed a newfound respect for public transportation. In the United States, I never use public transportation, ever. I live in a relatively small city and using the poorly organized and poorly maintained Rochester public transport simply is not as practical as driving my own car from place to place. The only times I use public transportation in the United States is when I go to New York City to visit my mom on business, and even then, it is not the most pleasant experience. I even found the public transportation in Brussels to be better than China, which I found to be slightly slower and more reliant on metro trains rather than in Brussels where I noticed more bus usage and more punctuality.

What made Brussels public transportation so great is that it was super convenient (never a bus stop too far away) super-efficient (never had to wait too long for a bus) and relatively clean! One other great thing about the use of public transportaiton in Brussels but also in general is the relief it brings to the environment. A trip taken by Brussels public transportation as opposed to by car cuts CO2 emmissions by 75%, with the metro and trams using 100% green electricity.

It occurred to me that My focus on the bus system in Brussels over the tram or metro is due to the fact that I hardly ever used the two latter, as the 95 bus (going to and from the Grand Place passing by our lodgings) and 71 bus (going to and from the city center via Chausse D’Ixelles to ULB, a couple blocks from our lodgings) never failed to suffice.

While in Brussels, I also realized the value in walking and formed a habit of walking to work most mornings. For me to take the 95 bus to my work at Place Luxembourg where the European Parliament is would take me at least 20 minutes. To (briskly) walk the same route could take me between 35-40 depending on whether it was raining. I sometimes found that as I left my room, I could see the 95-bus rounding the corner to stop at the normal bus stop. often times, by the time I walked to the next bus stop about 5 minutes, the bus would be just behind me preparing to stop due to being held up by the morning traffic. I realized that instead of sitting (or most likely standing) on a crowded bus and saving a few minutes, I could start my day with a walk and some fresh air. Two things easily taken for granted.

In America, my circumstances simply do not allow me to utilize public transportation or walking to get where I need to go. I almost always have to drive. That is one thing I will really miss about Brussels, the ability to develop some healthy habits while simply completing a talk such as getting to work. At home, I have to make time for things like walking. However, one thing that remains constant between America and Brussels regarding transportation is traffic. In America I sit through traffic in my own car, whereas in Brussels I sit though it on a bus.