I don’t drive and I likely never will. Subsequently, I became a big fan of the GMT early on in my UVM journey. Before moving to Burlington, I lived somewhere with very little public transit, and what was available I was too scared to use after enough fearmongering. After almost four years in our little city, I now know I could not have been more wrong about public transportation. From sweet conversations with strangers to overhearing juicy gossip, the bus has become a good friend of mine.
A bit of a disclaimer before we jump into things: Some people 100% need to own and drive a car for accessibility, safety, or other personal reasons even when public transportation is available, and Ibelieve they should have that access. Public transportation does not work for everyone, but if you’re interested in making a switch and are hesitant in doing so, let me make my case!
It’s Better for Your Wallet
Buying or leasing a car, paying for insurance, paying for maintenance, and paying for gas are all large burdens and honestly never end. These costs obviously aren’t feasible for every student! Alternatively, the GMT is completely free for students! If you need help figuring out how to access your free fares, this webpage is a great resource. I commute on the bus at least twice a day to go to and from classes with this Fare Free program and save a lot of money on transportation costs.
If you’re planning on staying in Burlington after graduation, the cost of riding the GMT is still more affordable than driving a car as long as your commute is within its reach. If you use the “Ride Ready by GMT” app, the daily fare cap is $4 and the monthly fare cap is $50. That’s a month’s worth of commuting for the cost of less than one tank of gas.
It’s Better for the Planet
When I ride the bus, I’m typically on there with 5-20 other people. That’s 5-20 less cars on the road than there would be if we all drove given that 75% of all car trips are single-occupant trips. Riding the bus reduces carbon emissions and helps to lower traffic and congestion. Overall, the existence of public transit itself is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. Just by switching your commute from a private vehicle to a bus, you can reduce your CO2 emissions by 20 pounds a day. That’s 4,800 pounds a year. It’s a big deal and you could be a part of it. Check out more public transportation stats here!
It’s Better for Your Soul
On a less serious note, riding the bus has genuinely been an enjoyable and rewarding experience for me over my time at UVM. I would have missed out on so many lovely interactions with strangers had I chosen to commute with a car. I treasure the conversations I’ve had with unknown neighbors, young and old, wishing me a great day or good luck with school. I’ll never forget a free bag of Werther’s Caramels I was offered by a bus driver because he got the wrong kind at the start of his route in Montpelier. And I’ll always hold close to my heart an older man I chatted with about how hard life can be on my commute back home after classes. He insisted on giving me a small bouquet of carnations he had bought for himself as a thank you. I’ve heard a lot of fearmongering about public transit as I said before, but I have found the bus to be such a wonderful space for community building if you let it.
As a wonderful woman announced on a filling up bus after making room for me, “We’re all cut from the same cloth, make room!” Taking the bus makes room for savings, room for a greener earth, and room for community and a stress-free commute. I couldn’t recommend it more!
