Report on a Public Transit Journey and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details a journey undertaken by two public transportation advocates, Miles Taylor and Jackson Betz, who traveled from the U.S.-Mexico border to the U.S.-Canada border using only local public transit systems. The initiative serves as a practical case study in the application and promotion of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to sustainable infrastructure, climate action, and urban development. The journey, meticulously planned via a 50-row spreadsheet, involved numerous bus and train connections along the West Coast, demonstrating the potential for long-distance, low-carbon travel.

Alignment with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The project directly supports SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Specifically, it addresses Target 11.2: to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all.

• Promoting Sustainable Transport: The journey showcased the viability of relying exclusively on public transit networks for long-distance travel, a key component of sustainable urban and regional planning.
• Accessibility and Affordability: By utilizing local bus and light rail services, the travelers highlighted an affordable alternative to private vehicle ownership and air travel, which is crucial for equitable access to mobility.
• Infrastructure Assessment: The trip functioned as an informal audit of the connectivity and integration of various municipal and regional transit systems, providing insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the existing public transport infrastructure.

Implications for SDG 13: Climate Action

The initiative serves as a powerful example of individual and collective action toward mitigating climate change, in line with SDG 13. Choosing public transportation over more carbon-intensive modes of travel is a critical strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Reduced Carbon Footprint: The journey inherently produced significantly lower emissions per passenger compared to an equivalent trip made by car or airplane.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Through media coverage and Taylor’s YouTube channel, @MilesinTransit, the journey raises public awareness about sustainable travel options and encourages a shift in transportation behaviors.

Analysis of Infrastructure and Economic Viability (SDG 9 & SDG 8)

The journey provides valuable insights into the state of public infrastructure (SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and its role in fostering sustainable economic growth (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).

1. Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity: The successful completion of the 1,400-mile trip confirmed that a network of interconnected local transit systems can facilitate long-distance travel, demonstrating a foundational level of infrastructural capacity.
2. Economic Accessibility: The emphasis on cost-effective travel, including fares as low as $3 for certain segments, underscores how robust public transit can support economic inclusivity by reducing the financial burden of transportation.
3. Need for Innovation: The reliance on a complex, self-made spreadsheet to navigate the 50 connections indicates a gap in user-friendly, integrated journey planning tools for multi-system travel, pointing to a need for innovation in transit technology and information systems.

Challenges and System Resilience

The journey was not without challenges, which tested both the travelers’ resolve and the resilience of the systems they utilized. These challenges have implications for disaster preparedness, a key aspect of building resilient communities (SDG 11) and ensuring well-being (SDG 3).

• Operational Disruptions: The travelers’ schedule was significantly impacted by a tsunami alert triggered by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia.
• Adaptation and Delay: This natural disaster alert forced an evacuation and a multi-day delay, highlighting the vulnerability of coastal transportation routes and the importance of emergency response protocols within transit operations.
• Infrastructure Quality: The travelers also reported physical discomfort on certain bus segments, pointing to variability in the quality and maintenance of the transit fleet.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is central to the article, which revolves around the use of public transportation. The journey undertaken by Taylor and Betz showcases the potential and challenges of relying exclusively on public transit systems for long-distance travel, directly connecting to the goal of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article highlights the reliance on existing public infrastructure, such as “several buses and trains” and “light rail systems.” The entire journey serves as a real-world test of the quality, reliability, and resilience of this infrastructure, which is a core component of SDG 9.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  While the travelers’ motivation was not explicitly environmental, using public transport is a key strategy for climate action by reducing carbon emissions compared to individual car travel. More directly, the article discusses the impact of a natural disaster (“an 8.8 magnitude earthquake… triggering tsunami alerts”) on the journey. This connects to SDG 13’s emphasis on strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.

   The entire article is an exploration of this target. The journey from the Mexican border to Canada using only “local transit” demonstrates an attempt to utilize existing transport systems. The mention of “budget-conscious travel” and a “$3 ticket” directly addresses the “affordable” aspect of this target. The use of “several buses and trains” and “light rail systems” speaks to the expansion of public transport.

2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

   The journey relies on the existing transport infrastructure along the West Coast. The need for a “detailed spreadsheet containing 50 rows of carefully planned connections” suggests a complex but functional system. However, the disruption caused by the tsunami alert tests the “resilient” aspect of this infrastructure, showing its vulnerability to natural events.

3. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   This target is directly referenced through the experience of the travelers. The article states, “an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck… triggering tsunami alerts,” which “forced the friends to adjust their timeline.” This event highlights a real-world instance of a natural hazard impacting travel and infrastructure, testing the resilience and adaptive capacity of both the system and the individuals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article, being a narrative, does not provide official statistical indicators but implies several practical ones:

• Indicator: Connectivity and availability of public transport networks.

  The successful, albeit delayed, 1,400-mile journey from San Ysidro, California, to the Canadian border using only public transit is a strong indicator of the existence and interconnectedness of these services. The “detailed spreadsheet containing 50 rows of carefully planned connections” implies a measurable level of network complexity and availability.

• Indicator: Affordability of public transport.

  The article provides a specific, though anecdotal, data point for this indicator when Betz mentions booking “a ticket from New York to San Antonio for just $3.” This highlights the cost-effectiveness that is possible within the public transit system.

• Indicator: Resilience of infrastructure and travel plans to natural disasters.

  The impact of the tsunami alert serves as a clear indicator of the system’s vulnerability. The article notes that the event “forced the friends to adjust their timeline, pushing their expected arrival at the Canadian border from last Friday to Monday.” This three-day delay is a quantifiable measure of the disruption and the time needed to adapt, reflecting the system’s resilience.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com