What is transportation?
Transportation is a way to move a person or goods from one place to another.
4 modes of transportation
Below are 4 major transportation modes that are commonly used in transportation. of course, there are still some underground transportation modes that play an indispensable role in our everyday life such as subway, pipeline, cables, etc.
Air
Passenger plane or cargo plane are all in this category
Water
This category includes big cargo vessle that carry 10,000-20,000 containers, or small barge, or boat. Any goods move on water are in this class.
Road
This group includes personal cars, commercial trucks or public transportations
Rail
Either it is a passenger train, a cargo train or anything move by rail are inside this category
Positive effects of transportation
Help economy
Transportation makes international trade possible. People in the US can enjoy tea from china. People in Japan can use iPhone that is designed in the US. International business makes the world economy grow.
Transportation also helps the domestic economy boom. The car you drive might ship to you from Detroit or Kentucky a thousand miles away. The orange juice you drink every morning comes from California. The lumber builds your house come from Oregon or Georgia. We are used to the convenience of our lives and don’t realize how much we depend on transportation.
look around your house see anything that is produced within walking distance, maybe one thing or probably nothing. Our lives will go back to the caveman era without transportation.
Improve people’s lives
Transportation improves people’s lives through access to jobs, healthcare, education, and affordable commodities.
People can choose where they want to live and still have access to their jobs, hospitals, good colleges, etc, because of transportation.
Transportation makes people access to museums, cinemas, shopping malls, entertainment places. let people enjoy life after work.
Transportation also makes the commodity available and affordable to people, even they do not produce them locally. For example, people who live in the Middle of the US can have Alaska salmon in their grocery stores. People in California can have new york cheesecake as a dessert.
Create jobs
Based on the bureau of transportation statistics truck transportation monthly employees in Jan of 2022 is around 1.53M, Air transportation monthly employees in Jan of 2022 is around 519K.
Only air and truck combined already reached 2M employees. We still have not counted the couple million employees working at seaports or rail stations.
There is no denying the fact that the transportation industry creates millions and millions of jobs.
Negative effects of transportation
The transportation industry helps the economy grow, improves people’s lives but at the same time also creates many negative effects on society and human beings. The 2 major problems that transportation created are environmental and safety.
Safety
According to world health organization that approximately 1.3 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. Road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product.
There were 33,244 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2019 based on iihs.org. The average fatality rate per 100,000 people is 11.65. It means that out of 100,000 people 11 pepople will die at road accident.
Air pollution
United states environmental protection agent pointed out that transportation is the largest contributor of US carbon pollutions. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation account for about 29 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Noise pollution
Transportation is a major contributor of noise pollution. Big cities with dense populations and major airports or major highways have higher noise pollution.
Many human health issues such as high blood pressure, sleeplessness, depression, headache, are all associated with exposure to noise.
Energy usage
Based on US energy information administration that transportation sector consumes 26% of total US energy in 2020. Petroleum is the main source of energy used in transportation.
Land usage
Almost all big cities around the world uses 20-30 percent of its land in transport facilities. In 2001 New York, US use 22% of it’s land for road. London, UK uses 23% for road. Paris, France 25%. ( based on www.vtpi.org). Increased population has Increased travel requirement. The more people and goods need move, the more land required to build transport facilities.
How to reduce nagative effects of transportation?
United states environmental protection agency list blow 6 things that individual can do to reduce the pollution of vehicles
1, Drive less
Drive less means less emission of carbon dioxide. Take public transportation if you can. Walk or bike to short distance. It is not only good to environment but also good to your health.
2, Drive wise
consolidate multiple trips to one. Maintain your car regularly
3, Choose fuel efficient vehicles
choose more efficient and less polluting cars such as electric cars, hybrid electric cars. These cars can save your money on gas.
4, Don’t idle
Unnecessary idling of cars pollutes the air, wastes fuel. if you don’t drive, turn off your engine.
5, Optimize home deliveries
Cosolidate your orders in one shipment to reduce package, reduce shipping
6, Use efficient lasw and gardening equipmentch
Go for a manual mower for a small yard. Shopping for electric and battery-powered mowers and garden equipment if you can
Summary
Transportation helps economy to grow, gives us access to quality of life but at same time bring environmental issues, safety issues to our society.
We need clear air but we also need mobility. We need access to the goods and services to keep life going.
I strongly believe that future vehicles will be more efficient and less pollute with the technology improving everyday.
Resources
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
