Looks like somebody forgot about us / standing on the corner, waiting for the bus. If only the Violent Femmes knew the troubles that the Milwaukee County Transit System would face 15 years when the complained about the system during the early nineties. The MCTS, once one of the nation’s strongest public transit systems, is experiencing the lowest ridership since 1975, despite national ridership numbers moving toward a 50 year high. Blame here is easy to distribute.

Although the mismanagement of federal funding and the refusal to commit tax dollars to the transit system by county officials is certainly worthy of comment, the objective here is to highlight the benefits of an effective public transportation system.

Even after the recent fare increase, which raised MCTS single fare to two dollars last year, commuters still save money by avoiding the gas pump. America’s crutch, foreign oil dependence, is only exaggerated by public discontent of MCTS. The environmental wear from automobiles that we take in stride could be significantly reduced with increased ridership. Even unemployment and the recent housing crisis could be combated by MCTS. A city with increased availability means more opportunities for everyone.

But a strong transit system could solve more problems than these common issues that have been talked about so much without tangible actions taken that the names hardly hold any significance. Segregation, for instance, is an issue that has plagued Milwaukee for years and is as biting of an issue as it was 50 years ago, and a city recommitted to public transportation would help fight this problem.

In addition, utilizing MCTS creates a bond between the rider and the city and hopefully encourages commitment to its betterment.