By Melanie Adams
Special to the FOCUs Blog

My mother didn’t learn how to drive until after I was born.  Before she did, we traveled around by bus or train.  I’m assuming it was my early introduction to public transportation that made me such a believer.  We would take the PATH into NY to go to Radio City  Music Hall and then take the bus when we needed to head east or west.  My mother was a pro at public transportation.

My first job out of grad school was in Berkeley, CA.  At that time I could either pay for a car or an apartment.  Since I didn’t want to live in my car, I chose the apartment.  That meant for 4 years I did not have a car and relied on public transportation to get around the Bay area.  I took the bus or the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transportation) everywhere and learned my way around the city.  Yes, I got lost, but at the same time, found some great new neighborhoods.  Public transportation allowed me to explore my new home in a way driving on the 101 wouldn’t.

Fast forward almost 4 decades later and the only time I take public transportation is to the airport and maybe the occasional Cardinal’s game.  I consider this to be a sad reflection of the city I now live.  If public transportation was more convenient, I would take it everywhere.  I would love to live near a metro stop so I could walk to the train, take it to work, take it shop (somewhere other than the galleria), and then take it back home.

The city leaders are always wondering why we are losing young professionals to cities like NY, Atlanta, and Chicago.  It is not the nightlife (well, not only the nightlife).  Most young professionals are earning entry level salaries and it is a lot cheaper to buy a monthly bus/metro pass than to pay for the upkeep of a car.  This is just one example of a group of people that would benefit from an enhanced public transportation system.  If the city wants to create a vibrant community for all of its citizens, a commitment to public transportation is the first step.

Melanie Adams is Director of Community Education and Events at the Missouri History Museum and a member of the FOCUS St. Louis Board of Directors.