By: Casey Walters

Fort Collins, Colo.-One issue that affects the happiness of urban places is the social interaction that is gained from using public transportation. Commuting by car on a day to day basis is extremely isolating, which can have detrimental effects on a person’s mental health. The Guardian states that a survey of 18,000 passengers found that people who traveled to work using public transportation were happier than those who drove. 

In Fort Collins, MAX buses are free and have 12 stops in the area, including stops on CSU campus and many within old town. Passengers can also bring their bikes onto these buses and to get from the bus stop to their final destination. 

According to CBS, Fort Collins recently received 10.7 million dollars from the Department of Transportation to expand public transportation lines. Fort Collins first started this motion toward having public transportation available to its citizens starting in 1907, with the trolley. This trolley had three lines spanning 6.2 miles.

Historical photo of Fort Collins, CO trolley. Photo by: Fort Collins History Connection

Public transportation provides numerous benefits to its passengers, including: 

• Provides diverse interactions across socioeconomic statuses
• Interactions across age groups, elderly people who are unable to drive themselves can still leave the house
• Sense of independence for those who may not have access to cars
• Encourages people to visit a city’s outdoor spaces by making them more accessible 

In my experience, San Francisco is a special place because it has plentiful outdoor spaces. A short walk can keep a person from visiting these spaces because the topography of the city is so difficult to navigate, you are unlikely to visit a park if it requires a treacherous walk up many flights of stairs. San Francisco is also lacking in its access to public transportation, so people can’t use it to get to these locations. 

I’ve found that the lack of public transportation and time spent in public locations in the Bay Area contributes to a sense of isolation within the community, whereas the culture of Fort Collins is more open and welcoming, and I believe this may have to do with engagement in public transportation and services.