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California County Details How Transit Cuts Harm Health
The link between transit and health is well-documented. But a new study by the Alameda County Health Department takes it a step further: officials are using the findings to document the detrimental effects of transit cuts. And they hope to influence the future of transportation in the Bay Area.
The study's authors surveyed hundreds of transit-dependent riders in Alameda County, and found that more than eight in 10 said they had difficulty getting to jobs, social activities, school or doctor's appointments.
One rider put it starkly: "When the buses don’t run, neither do we. That means we can’t work, play, socialize things like that. And we can’t get jobs and keep jobs and and go to doctors appointments and be human." ...................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/transportation-nation/2013/may/16/california-county-details-how-transit-cuts-harm-health/
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
AC Transit, which serves the densely populated western portion of Alameda County, including Oakland and Berkeley, has been slashing budgets and service for years now. There are even some residential neighborhoods up in the Oakland hills with no service at all. 
Years ago it was considered a model for transit agencies across the country. Then BART was built. AC Transit lost a lot of its premium transbay (to SF) commuters (fare is $4 and change, compared to $2.10 local) to BART.
