NYC Transit To Become More Eco-Friendly
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA 
on 09.17.07
Photo credit: pbouchard
The nation's largest mass-transit system is looking at ways it could become more environmentally friendly. Rooftop gardens on bus depots and windmills at rail yards are just a couple of the ideas being batted around by a member of panel experts formed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to develop a "green master plan" for the New York City's system of subways and buses.
"The issue of global warming is arguably the most significant challenge our generation faces and it's important that the MTA do its part," said Elliot Sander, the executive director of the authority.
Alex Matthiessen, president of Riverkeeper and a member of the panel, said green rooftops on bus depots could absorb water during rainstorms and mitigate the flooding that often paralyzes the subway system. ::Daily Record
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We haven't had those buses since forever. And O'Neals was replaced by Iridium/Merlot at least 10 years ago. I loved O'Neals.
In fact, I think that young man in the yellow is a young, buff Mayor Bloomberg!
Anyone who has taken a ride on the street cars of New Orleans (designed and made in the 1920's) and which have no air conditioning at all, can see that something as problematic and weight adding as green roof top on buses is not needed. Simply provide opening windows on sides, front and back is step one. Step two is to install a "whole bus fan" on the roof that pulls air in through the open windows when it is hot and muggy. Ceiling fans not acceptable because vandals would quickly ruin them: otherwise that would be charming as well as functional.
Nevertheless, it's good to see environmental friendliness being a priority for the nation's largest mass transit system. If NYC can implement successful reforms, hopefully it'll inspire more cities to follow a similar pattern.
Here are some things we can do to influence greener public transportation in our own cities.
I think they mean rooftop gardens on the bus Depots not the tops of the buses themselves. Whoops.
Electricity - I live on a block that a bus goes on. I miss those old stainless steel jobs too. But even the new ones make a decent amount of noise. I think electric and hybrid will do a lot to keep the noise down, affect quality of life, etc.
vsk