Being Green, Riding Public Transportation

I was green before green was a thing. #Blake Shelton

 

When I think of the word Green, I think of a new state of balance, freedom to pursue new ideas, protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others, a need for change or growth…A need for change and growth bears repeating.

January 2012, I began riding Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) part-time to attend El Centro Community College in downtown Dallas.  It was a logical choice because the DART bus and train stopped one-half block from the community college. Additionally, I was able to make it to class early with a few minutes of spare versus spending twenty minutes circling the college trying to find a parking spot; feeding the parking meter or a $10 parking spot and being LATE to class.  It conjures up nightmares to think about that.

Later in 2012, my employer celebrated having Zero Landfill – that equates to recycling EVERYTHING that is used in the facility; that further motivated me to stay green and continue to riding DART.

My commute begins with a ¼ mile walk (8 minutes uphill) from my home to the bus stop – rain, shine, day or night. Then a 20 minute bus ride to downtown, a 5 minute walk to the train, a 17 minute train ride to the next bus stop.  Then lastly a 15 minute ride to my job. Then I repeat the process to return home.  If you add that up, one hour and five minutes riding DART versus a 23 minute commute to work and home.

I can hear some of you say, “…it is quicker to drive than to ride DART,” but which is less stressful?  I became extremely comfortable with watching traffic jams instead of being part of them.  I was able to read, meet new people and see things at a slower pace, my moniker was Speed Racer.

Below are questions the skeptics continually ask,

·        Is something wrong with your car?

·        Why do you continue riding the train/bus?

·        Do you feel afraid riding the train/bus?

·        What if something happens to the train/bus?

The list goes on and on.

I reply:

+       I save gas

+       I arrive to work in a timely manner

+       I’m prompted to leave work in a timely manner

+       There are at least 15 cameras at each DART rail stop

+       DART police ride the bus and train dressed in uniform and incognito

+       I receive Twitter feeds if there are issues with the light rail system

+       If the bus is late it is either weather related or stuck in a traffic jam

+       I wind down

+       I walk a guaranteed ½ mile per day.

I lost 15 pounds – gone forever.

***DEEP SIGH***

Ethnology should not be a factory in a decision to be green however, if my Caucasian counterparts were riding DART, they would be congratulated and celebrated for “Being Green” or “Saving The Environment” or “Reducing Their Carbon Footprint.”  I’m not Caucasian but I want the earth to be saved for my grandson, his son and on down the line too.

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