The case for buses: interdisciplinary ethical arguments in support of strong public transit

We argue that municipalities of all sizes should prioritize transit, particularly buses, as a moral and practical consideration. Buses represent a mode of transit that is significantly better than private automobiles: better for the environment, more accessible to a broad range of people, healthier, and more conducive to the creation of safe, humane communities. Writing from Roanoke, VA, USA, we know that small and medium-sized American cities such as ours tend to underfund their transit systems, but a good bus system could be the centerpiece of a transportation strategy that generates health, clean air, and upward mobility for all. In this essay we establish the practical and moral reasons why cities should invest in public transit: it is not only financially smart but morally imperative to do so. We also examine cultural reasons why public transit tends to be underfunded in the US. Well-funded public transportation systems—which, in most cases, should feature a robust and well-funded bus system—have the potential to act as a key ingredient in healthy, prosperous, and just communities. Whether bus systems live up to this potential is a question that lies in the hands of advocates and decision-makers.