Why not take the bus to school?

So much for walking 10 miles uphill in the sleet and snow to school. Apparently today's families feel entitled to drive their kids to school. A recent article Gas prices mean more students take bus suggests, however, that skyrocketing gas prices have caused some suburbanites to start (gasp!) putting their kin on the bus.

Parent Patricia Israel expresses a view shared by many when weighing economic and environmental costs. The article explains:

She sees [having her twins ride the bus] as environmentally sound transportation that reduces traffic on the streets and at the school.

It also saves money on gas for her sport utility vehicle. "We're looking at getting a hybrid," Israel said. "Every time I fill up the gas tank, it's like $75."

This parent's quote implies that saving the environment is a nice side benefit but the real motivating factor for change is the money she wastes on her SUV.

If Americans had gauged economic AND environmental costs together we would not see such unsustainable consumption and development patterns in our cities and their suburbs

But this is old news.

In America, development has become so sprawled that taking public transportation does not seem feasible. Not everywhere can be like Brooklyn where traffic, construction and New York drivers keep people on the subway. Nonetheless, a little more foresight can surely lead to improvement if cities (and the individual drivers within them) start taking sustainability seriously.

But come on folks. The city provides a free school bus for a reason--take advantage! Perhaps your children will value public transportation and fix the mistakes of our generation.