The CDC has recently released a report on reliable transportation, examining how access to transportation impacts Health and healthcare access in the United States. The report found that approximately 5.7% of American adults, totaling about 15 million individuals, face unreliable transportation, which affects their ability to access healthcare appointments, healthy food, education, and jobs. This predicament not only hampers mobility but also has far-reaching public health implications.
Megan Latshaw, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has been working to address the health and environmental impacts of unreliable transportation, particularly in Baltimore. Through her partnership with the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition (BTEC), they have created maps on transportation, access, vulnerability, air pollution, and health, which have played a role in the passing of Maryland’s Transit Equity Act of 2023.
In a recent interview, Latshaw discussed the significance of the CDC report and highlighted the public health implications of unreliable transportation. She emphasized how the reliance on cars in the US is unsustainable and unhealthy, leading to increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Latshaw also pointed out the impact on individuals, including students being harassed and late for school due to unreliable public transit, as well as the challenges faced by the elderly in managing chronic health conditions.
Looking towards the future, Latshaw advocated for investment in public transit as a means to improve existing transportation systems. She highlighted the need to make public transportation more reliable and accessible, ultimately reducing reliance on cars and promoting a healthier and more sustainable mode of transportation.
In light of the CDC report, it is clear that addressing reliable transportation as a public health issue is of utmost importance. With the potential for policy change and increased investment in public transit, there is hope for a more accessible and reliable transportation system in the future. The historical emphasis on car reliance in the US is being challenged, and a shift towards a more sustainable and health-conscious approach to transportation is on the horizon.
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