All buses will be free on Friday, April 22 to celebrate Earth Day. Consider leaving your car at home and trying to incorporate public transit into your day. For resources on how to use Lawrence Transit bus routes, visit lawrencetransit.org to see maps and schedules, plan a trip, or find out about the My Bus Lawrence app that provides real-time arrival data for all fixed-route buses.

There are many reasons that public transportation is an important asset to any community. It connects people to school, work, and important services. Using the bus instead of a car also helps people save money, reduces traffic congestion, and has environmental benefits such as reduced gasoline consumption and carbon emissions.

Lawrence Transit will take a further step toward sustainability when it deploys its first five electric buses this year. The City of Lawrence has a goal of converting 100% of its fleet of vehicles to clean energy by 2035, and the acquisition of electric buses will help the city reach this goal.

Facts about public transit in the United States:

Reduces Gasoline Consumption

Public transportation’s overall effects save the United States 6 billion gallons of gasoline annually.

Lessens Carbon Footprint

Communities that invest in public transit reduce the nation’s carbon emissions by 63 million metric tons annually.

Increases Safety

Traveling by public transportation is 10 times safer per mile than traveling by automobile. A person can reduce his or her chance of being in an accident by more than 90% simply by taking public transit as opposed to commuting by car.

Provides Economic Benefits

The average household spends 16 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 93% of this goes to buying, maintaining, and operating cars, the largest expenditure after housing. A household can save nearly $10,000 by taking public transportation and living with one less car.

For more facts about public transportation, visit the American Public Transportation Association.

Find Lawrence Transit on Facebook: @LawrenceTransit and on Twitter: @TransitLawrence.

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