Public transit makes an important difference in communities the size of Marshall, and that’s something I know from personal experience.

I will be a transit customer for about a month in August and September . It’s due to hip surgery, which will mean 30 days of driving restriction.

I was surprised about it because this time we’ll be dealing with my left side. Medical staff told me, however, that they still restrict driving because of how pain and medication can slow reaction time.

I’d consider it a hardship if it weren’t for the fact that Marshall’s United Community Action transit division is such a great service. They did an awesome job for me in 2021 when my right hip was replaced. I’m confident that again in 2024 monthly transit passes will meet my transportation needs.

Some residents in both rural and urban areas are dependent on public transit because of permanent disabilities. Others are people with limited financial resources who can’t afford to have a vehicle.

Some are senior citizens who can no longer drive. I know of at least several of them who voluntarily gave up their cars. Public transit gives them another option.

The transit buses come with lifts for those who are unable to climb aboard. They’re always clean and comfortable. The drivers are unfailingly friendly, courteous and patient. They do a great job of staying on schedule.

People often think public transit means something urban, that it means light rail or large bus units. Our rural counterparts are one of the best kept secrets in terms of public service.

If possible there should be greatly increased funding at the federal and state levels for community transit systems. It’s not just to help the individuals that use them.

Instead it’s a matter of considering what transit could mean for the future of society. It could make a huge difference with fuel consumption, air quality, public safety and road construction costs.

If I were 30 years younger, I’d seriously consider going without a car. A young person starting to plan for the future could save money by not having car insurance, the license fee, gas costs, car maintenance expenses, a value depreciation.

In the future we need to avoid being preoccupied with our cars, with the freedom that goes with just getting behind the wheel.

I have a book at home called The Dodgers Move West. It’s a 1980s book by Neil J. Sullivan about how the Dodgers decided to move to Lost Angeles from Brooklyn.

Much of it came down to a stadium needed to replace the aging Ebbetts Field. Brooklyn made attempts to propose a new stadium, but it couldn’t come up with anything to substantially add to the parking that would be needed to accommodate cars and motorists.

Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley and his finance and marketing advisors questioned whether they could get people from the New York City metropolitan area to park their cars and take a train into Brooklyn for the baseball games. Building more of a train station didn’t seem like enough.

Los Angeles, by contrast, was a modern-day car culture even in the late 1950s. The stadium site at Chavez Ravine promised plenty of parking, an efficient way for fans to get to the ballpark.

Some of the same questions were addressed in the 21st century construction of Minnesota’s Target Field and U. S. Bank Stadium. Fortunately solutions were found to ensure that both the Twins and Vikings could stay in the Twin Cities.

It remains to be seen as to whether more people can choose transit options other than personal vehicles. It’s good that we’ve at least made a start. It’s good that for many people transit might be feasible and cost effective.

I’m glad my transit needs can be met later this summer. I’m thankful that eventually when I’m too old to drive I’ll have a practical alternative. Transit systems definitely have a future.

— Jim Muchlinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent