Topic 13 DQ 2 Comment 1

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One community resource to enable health within the community that may be overlooked is public transit. Public transit, or transportation, more generally, is a social determinant of health (Rural Health Information Hub [RHIhub], 2020) that provides several benefits for community health, not the least of which is its direct influence on physical activity. Freeland, et al. (2013), found that individuals in urban areas with a rail system were 72% more likely to walk 30 minutes or more per day compared to those without a rail system; 30 minutes or more of daily physical activity naturally has demonstrable benefits for preventing heart disease, obesity, etc. Perhaps even more importantly is the ability of public transit to improve health equity by increasing access to health and social services, employment opportunities, social connection, and healthy food sources, particularly for those who may be otherwise unable to access these resources, including individuals living in poverty, the elderly, people of color, and those living with disabilities (Heaps, et al., 2021).  

Because transportation is a social determinant, however, it follows that reduced access to public transit would have negative consequences for community health. While large, urban areas have expanded access public transit, rural areas are still lagging, leaving residents in these areas with reduced access to employment and educational opportunities, healthcare and social services, and community activities and social connectedness, and even opportunities for political involvement and voting (RHIhub, 2019). Expanding public transit into widespread areas with low population density will be challenging to say the least, in terms of logistics and funding, yet, it is certainly necessary to improve health equity and improve population health.