Just a few years ago, electric buses routinely faltered in cold conditions, reinforcing doubts about whether they could replace diesel and natural gas-burning fleets in northern cities. Now, with better batteries and strategically placed chargers, Madison is at the forefront of a small but growing number of cities testing whether those doubts still hold. Making the technology work through a long Midwestern winter could reshape how others approach electrification. Some 3.6 million commuters nationwide rely on buses to get around. With transportation accounting for roughly 28 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, transit agencies are looking for alternatives to polluting machinery that creates a particular health risk around bus stops.
Ah, I see. From a 10,000’ view this makes sense, but at least in my local political context, local government is relatively powerless to do much to reduce personal vehicle usage. But they do have total control over what buses are used. So I don’t see those changes as direct alternatives.
Changing from the personal car as the default means of travel is going to require a large, powerful political movement. It’s not something government leaders can do unilaterally. The backlash will be very intense. So I think it’s up to concerned and motivated members of the community to create a positive force for change that overwhelms that opposition.
I would personally argue changing modes of transit are very much a local leader problem. Since they decide land use policies, transportation priorities, and many other things that can improve or degrade the transportation options available to people.
I’m obviously biased with my own political reality, but a city council can do more for modal share than a federal decree. And it’s obviously not a zero sum game. We can replace fleets woth electric busses AND build bike lanes.