There are several recent mass transportation innovations which have been widely acclaimed for their ability to cut down on our environmental impact, especially alternative-fuel buses like those powered by electricity or liquefied propane. But, you don’t need a state-of-the-art bus outfitted with the newest fuel system available to help limit our environmental impact. Simply using any school bus operating today can make an impact on its own.
It is estimated that around 480,000 school buses transport 25 million children every day. That is over half of America’s schoolchildren. That also makes buses easily the most common form of mass transportation in the United States. These buses also prevent other cars from having to be on the road, which reduces carbon emissions.
Every school bus on the road is taking the place of the approximates 36 cars that would be needed to transport students instead. That is 36 cars per bus that would be burning fuel and releasing fumes into the atmosphere. According to American School Bus Council figures, the United States saved 2.3 billion gallons of gasoline in 2010, equaling at least $6 billion in 2010 fuel prices, simply by using buses in place of cars.
As we search for new ways to reduce our impact on the environment and create a safe and sustainable world for our future generations, it is important to remember you don’t always have to be buying the latest systems. Making practical adjustments and using efficient methods of mass transportation is a big step in the right direction.
