Transportation Emerges as Crucial to Escaping Poverty

[Liberal_in_LA]

Transportation Emerges as Crucial to Escaping Poverty


James Baker was pedaling to work along a slick, snow-covered road in Frederick County, Md., when a traffic light changed abruptly. He braked and skidded to the ground, unhurt but making a mess of his clothes before a long day of work and school.

He was on his bicycle that snowy morning last December, about an hour northwest of Washington, because the bus service in Frederick was so erratic. Routes were far apart and the buses often late, making a 30-minute bike ride, whatever the weather, a better option.

His commuting problems highlight a central theme for many low-income people trying to build a better life: A lack of reliable and efficient transportation is often a huge barrier.

In a large, continuing study of upward mobility based at Harvard, commuting time has emerged as the single strongest factor in the odds of escaping poverty. The longer an average commute in a given county, the worse the chances of low-income families there moving up the ladder.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/upshot/transportation-emerges-as-crucial-to-escaping-poverty.html?_r=0&referrer=

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Which is exactly why the GOPers are so opposed to public transportation.

They are trying to expand the light-rail system in my area. The GOPers hate it. They are acting like somebody was trying to open a leper colony or a brothel next to an elementary school.

[Cheese Sandwich]

2. Yeah this is huge. Nothing like getting soaked on your way to an 8 hour shift.

We need more shelters for people to stand under at the bus stops. And stuff like that.

More transit service, and better.

[FLPanhandle]

3. Even if you have a car, they are incredibly expensive

Up front cost, maintenance (high for cheap cars), insurance, taxes, fuel, tires, etc.

[Rod Beauvex]

4. "Transportation crucial to escaping poverty."

Hence "Cash for Clunkers". Can't be having people escaping poverty with all those old, beat up but still running Corollas out on the roads.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. That is a given.

Anyone who has studied Urban Planning or City Planning knows if one forgets the Transportation Component,you have not done your job. You can create urban poverty areas by design and we have all seen it. All one has to do is look at your city map and one will see just how easy it was for Conservative Administrations to pull this off. Just like we see today in most Cities,Homeless folks are pushed into certain corridors in order to Gentrify certain neighborhoods. It's all about the money and image,got to protect the so called job creators don't we.