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Moving Through Downtown: The Case for Bikes and Buses by Salgu Wissmath In 2005, gasoline and diesel consumption accounted for 47% of Berkeley’s total greenhouse gas emissions and created almost 293,000 tons of greenhouse gases. After reading the Downtown Area Plan’s call to get people to walk, bike or use public transit, I was curious if people would embrace these noble goals. According to the Plan, “Almost 4,000 people bike to work... 1,200 buses pass through the Downtown area daily...and all of AC Transit’s 18 local bus lines connect with a BART station.” Although Berkeley remains one of the top 25 cities in the country in percentage of commuters using transit, it remains the “least preferred” mode of transport for most Berkeley residents. The majority of people told me that they drive because it’s more convenient and that public transportation takes too long. A couple visiting from Castro Valley states, “We’re not anti-public transportation. It’s just extremely inconvenient. We would rather drive.” But Steve Raymond says he rides his bike 5 days a week “to incorporate a physical workout with the commute.” Dean Lekas, an AC Bus driver, adds, “They want people doing all their business on buses. That’s never gonna happen. Those days are gone. What we need to do is get the majority of people commuting [on the AC Transit buses].”  |
AC Transit | 
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Downtown Berkeley Bart Station | 
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Line #51 | 
Joe, Berkeley Resident | 
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Bike Cage at the Berkeley Bart Station | 
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