-submitted by Christopher Hall, Sustainable CSRA, https://Sustainablecsra.org, 803-640-5551
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On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was asked to give up her seat to a white person, to which she said “No”. Her defiance led to her arrest and that moment sparked the famous, 381 day Montgomery Bus Boycott. Despite the success of the boycott, sixty-eight years later, transportation is still a civil rights issue. For the past six years, people and organizations across the country have come together to honor Rosa Parks and Transit Equity Day on her birthday, February 4th.. Without her courage, the changes we’ve seen would have never come to fruition. We may see the progress that has been made slip away if we do not recognize that there is still work to be done. Today, more than ever, we must collaborate to see the changes we want through organizing, advocating, and educating.
Transit Equity Day was started by several organizations including the Labor Network for Sustainability, to celebrate the activism of Rosa Parks on her birthday. In the CSRA, several organizations have advocated for transit equity for the past two years. We wrote letters to the editor of the Augusta Chronicle in 2022 and in 2023 we gathered at Hudson Memorial to hear about the need for better transit and infrastructure from community voices. We then rode the bus through the streets of our hometown as a group. As the morning progressed, we learned about the obstacles that people face in using public transportation.
What are the obstacles to equity in transportation across the CSRA? The celebration of Rosa Parks acknowledges that skin color is an obstacle when it comes to public transportation, but in today’s world, racism shows up in so many other ways. To address equity issues in transportation, we must address the chronic underfunding of our infrastructure. Sidewalks that are in good repair will benefit all, but in particular those with visual or mobility issues. Covered shelters for our bus stops will help protect people from the elements, including rain, sun, and wind. Signage that is easily recognized, well designed, and up to date will provide an important tool for riders that may be seasoned or those that want to use public transportation more. Identifying and resolving these infrastructure issues will not only result in ADA compliance, but will also make the use of public transportation more desirable for everyone.
Improvements in transit equity yield benefits to the community in multiple ways. Building equity in transportation means improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Reliable public transportation ensures that residents can access social services and health care when needed. Better pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure promotes physical activity and transit options. These features build the kind of community that people want to live in and that creates economic growth and better health. The only way to create the kind of solutions we want to see in our community is to build power with many voices at the table.
Equity in transportation must also include enough buses to provide excellent service levels. For transit to be effective, it must answer a few questions: How fast can you get there? Can you get there? How frequent is the service? The frequency of buses running their routes is 45 minutes, which can seem like a lifetime when you need to get somewhere. There are areas in South Augusta that aren’t served at all, like Tobacco Road. In the Aiken area, there is a schedule for when the buses run, but there are neither signs nor covered bus stops. A person literally has to flag the bus down in order to get a ride. Also, the service from Aiken to Augusta takes over an hour. On both sides of the Savannah River, there are opportunities to eat good food, shop at interesting shops, and enjoy various kinds of entertainment. A public transportation system that is fast, effective, and efficient can provide access to a variety of activities that people want to enjoy.
