Green public transportation refers to the use of mass transit vehicles that are less harmful to the environment than traditional vehicles. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, from using ethanol-based fuels in buses to converting an entire city transportation system to hydrogen-powered vehicles. The ultimate goal of establishing a green public transportation system is to have the least possible negative impact on the environment and landscape. Despite the fact that many steps have been taken around the world to assist in the establishment of green systems, some areas are more resistant to change than others.
Using alternative fuels in buses is one step many public transportation systems are taking to reduce emissions. This is a practical measure that will have a long-term positive impact on emissions. Despite the fact that the buses will not increase their per-gallon mileage, they will emit fewer harmful pollutants. Alternative fuels like biodiesel and ethanol allow a city to keep its existing bus fleet while also taking steps to become more environmentally friendly.
Surface transportation planning is another effort that can help develop a green public transportation system. This entails assessing the efficacy of various routes, eliminating redundancies, and researching how public transportation movement affects other modes of transportation. Emissions can be reduced throughout a public transit system and harmful vehicle idling can be reduced by a variety of actions, such as changing bus routes, adjusting traffic light timing, and changing how trains and subways make their stops.
The methods outlined above for facilitating a green public transportation system do not necessitate major changes to an area’s existing infrastructure. Roads, rail lines, and subways may need to be modified in the future as new technologies advance. This type of construction allows a city to integrate new, environmentally friendly public transportation technology into daily life.
Energy-efficient magnetic levitation trains, lightweight electric buses and other vehicles, and solar-powered train cars are all examples of new transit technologies. New ideas have also begun to emerge, such as the personal rapid transit system, in which small “pods” with a limited number of passengers travel quickly along a network, allowing direct travel from point to point without multiple stops. Many ideas have been proposed all over the world, but financial constraints and the inability to effectively modify existing infrastructures can stymie widespread change.