What are the benefits of riding public transit and the POINT?
- Public transit encourages a more active lifestyle. Public transit riders usually have to walk, bike or roll to get to a transit stop. This helps them reach the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Some transit services like the POINT even allow riders to bring their bikes with them. Learn how in our Amenities section.
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- Public transit helps our local economy. Transit located close to safe, walkable streets helps encourage shopping at nearby businesses. Additionally, homes that are close to a public transit stop often have higher property values which helps the owners when they sell or rent.
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- Riding public transit instead of driving is good for the environment. Transportation is now Oregon’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Riding public transit instead of driving alone lowers your CO2 emissions and carbon footprint, helping reduce air pollution and improving air quality. In the U.S., it’s estimated that public transportation prevents 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted per year.
Transit agencies are helping too: In Oregon, agencies like TriMet are switching to alternative fuel sources such as renewable diesel, natural gas and propane, or to electric buses, with the assistance of DEQ’s Clean Fuels Program. The companies that operate the POINT for ODOT are also given financial incentives for using alternative fuel sources for their buses.
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- Riding public transit helps reduce traffic congestion. More people riding transit means less vehicles on the road. Road improvements such as making lanes wider cost a lot, take lots of time to build, and only provide short-term relief from traffic congestion. Public transit is a more environmentally friendly, cheaper and equitable option for reducing congestion.
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- Riding public transit is good for your mental health. From having to fight traffic, to finding place to park, to high gas prices, to the risk of a crash, driving can be stressful for most of us and even very scary for some. Most Americans don’t really like driving that much in the first place. Riding transit takes away the stress of having to drive altogether! Public transit also helps riders—especially those who don’t or can’t drive—gain access to social and recreational opportunities and improve their access to healthy food, employment, and medical services. All of this decreases social isolation and improves overall well-being.
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- Riding public transit is safer than driving. Traveling by bus or train is ten times safer than traveling by car. An estimated 42,915 Americans died in crashes involving motor vehicles in 2021 which is the most in 16 years. The safest trip is always the one you didn’t have to make in the first place. But, when you need to travel, going by transit is usually always one of the safest options.
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- Public transit helps people get where they need to go. 600,000 Americans stop driving every year due to old age. Many more don’t drive due to a disability, because they cannot afford to own a car, or because they choose not to. Public transit like the POINT helps people who don’t have a lot of other travel options get to doctor’s appointments, go shopping, take vacations, connect to other transportation services, and much more.
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- Public transit reduces distracted driving and gives riders more freedom. Many states like Oregon have distracted driving laws to make sure people are paying attention to the road instead of their phone while driving. While riding public transit, riders can freely and safely text, write emails, make calls, and all the other important things we do on our phones. Some services, like the POINT, even provide free Wi-Fi, USB ports, and power outlets for more ways to work and relax while on board! Learn more in our Amenities section.
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- POINT is a great way to travel Oregon. You can explore destinations in many different places across Oregon on the POINT’s four routes, including the Southwestern and Northwestern Oregon Coasts, the Willamette Valley, and Central and Eastern Oregon.
Find ideas for some fun trips you can take on the POINT:
