Are buses more environmentally friendly?

Are buses eco-friendly? A comparison of transit impact.

Okay, so, eco-friendly buses? Hmm, it's complicated. I remember reading somewhere – maybe a report from the EPA, around March last year – that buses save billions of gallons of gas annually. That's a huge number.

Seriously, think about all the cars you see daily. If even a fraction switched to buses, the impact would be wild. My cousin works for the city bus system; he says the fuel efficiency is way better than any car.

But, it's not just fuel. Less traffic means less idling, fewer emissions. Cleaner air in the city, less congestion; I've felt that firsthand – biking in Denver on a summer afternoon, the difference is massive.

Less individual cars mean lower carbon footprint per person, right? I saw a study once (can't recall where, gah!), showing a pretty substantial reduction. It's a win, overall. Even with their own emissions, buses are still far more efficient than a million separate cars.