Legislative session ended last month without a transportation package, and without a local funding option that would have given local transit agencies the ability to ask the public for money. Money that might have mitigated the drastic funding shortfall that Metro is facing. Without that funding, bus service will likely be cut by as much as 17 percent starting in the fall of 2014, around the same time that a planned fare increase will go into effect.
The immediate outcomes of such bus cuts are obvious: with fewer buses, running far less frequently, it will be much more difficult (for almost anyone: more than 70% of routes could be affected) to get from point A to point B.
But the longer-term, derivative consequences of reduced service are less obvious and arguably much more detrimental. In May of this year, Alameda County Public Health Department released a study that assessed the health impacts of recent bus service cuts and fare increases in the area, showing how remarkably nuanced and devastating the effects of something as seemingly straightforward as service cuts can be on riders’ health.
The study surveyed vulnerable communities in Alameda County that had experienced reduced service in the past few years, focusing on those most likely to rely on transit by looking at demographics such as: proportion of residents without cars, those below the poverty level, and people of color. For transit-dependent individuals, the study points out, “public transportation is a lifeline to jobs, education, family and friends, healthy, affordable food, recreation, and medical care, all of which are essential for individual health and well-being.” Take that lifeline away, and you’re left with a whole host of problems.
Surveyed participants reported:
Stressful Commutes:
o Longer waits for the bus increased stress for riders, especially when they felt unsafe at certain bus stops.
o Reduced service means crowded buses, with fewer places to sit, or even getting passed by the bus. This reduces bus access overall, especially for people in wheelchairs, and increases risk of pain or injury for seniors and people with disabilities.
Unhealthy Trade-offs & Cutbacks
o When fares go up, riders report having to make difficult budget trade-offs or cutbacks when they don’t have enough money to cover both increased transportation costs plus their other monthly expenses. Focus group participants said they have had to cut back on food, social activities, and trips to the doctor.
Missing Work and Wages
o Many riders reported an increase of 30 minutes or more to their commutes. Longer commutes can mean arriving late and losing wages for time missed at work, which in turn can make it harder to afford basic needs that support good health.
Unhealthy Disruptions to School Attendance
o Some participants reported longer commute times to school, which leaves less time for activities that support good health, like sleep and exercise.
o Reduced bus service can often result in tardiness and missed school days. Tardiness and absences have been linked to lower academic performance and school graduation rates, whereas higher levels of educational attainment have also been linked to higher incomes, which correlates with better health and more positive health behaviors.
Social Isolation and Mental Health
o After bus service cuts, some participants reported that they met family and friends less often, and expressed concern about their social isolation, which is especially a problem for those with no friends or family within walking distance.
Reduced Access to Health Care Appointments
o As with school and work, reduced service impacted surveyed participants’ ability to get to healthcare appointments. Longer travel times meant missed appointments and fewer trips to health care over all.
Compounding these effects is the fact that many surveyed participants are from communities already at risk for health disparities, and are more likely to live in neighborhoods with fewer “health-promoting resources” such as places of employment, schools, social and community activities, and healthcare facilities.
Based on the study’s findings, Alameda County recommended restoring funding for transit service, exploring a reduced fare for low-income populations, and, perhaps most importantly, the study emphasized the importance of including quality of trip experience and service conditions into existing data collection and health analyses.
Hopefully, we’ll be able to find a way to stave off the Metro cuts slated for fall. If not, it appears we’ll be dealing with far bigger problems than just simply reduced service.
