Another Outcome of Public Transit: Lessons in Virtue

An editorial for Strong Towns voices an idea perhaps thought, but rarely spoken: taking public transit can help you become a better person.

1 minute read

June 6, 2016, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Aleph Studio / Shutterstock

Sarah Joy Proppe begins a recent post for Strong Towns with a simple but perhaps surprising claim: "I take public transit to learn virtue." After checking her privilege, Sara goes on to make a strong case to support the claim, writing a recommended read for anyone who chooses to take traffic and anyone else who is considering the choice to take transit. How's this for supporting the cause of public transit: "I believe public transit has the capacity to shape me for good as a person, not just my physical environment and local economy."

After noting that advocates of public transit don't usually focus on virtue as an outcome of public transit, Proppe goes on to list some of the virtues she's cultivated while taking public transit in the D.C. area and the Twin Cities: patience, courage, and empathy.

FULL STORY: Learning Virtue Through Public Transit

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 in Strong Towns

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