Joe Tong Makes the Switch from Car to Transit
Featured guest post from teacher Joe Tong, discusses his experience of switching from commuting by car to taking transit.
I spent my summer break cycling and taking transit around Vancouver and once school picked up again I fell back in the same routine commuting by car, alone, to work.
Commuting from Surrey to Vancouver seemed like a huge feat to begin with, so I automatically drove to work when I started teaching there last year. It wasn't until I got in a minor fender bender a few weeks ago that I felt the push to take public transit to work, something I had been meaning to look into but never did as I assumed it would take a lifetime.
After I looked into taking the bus to work for the two days I was without a vehicle, I quickly realized that it is easier than I thought it would be and only added about 20 minutes to my total travel time.
I have a UPass so it makes sense to use it and also it is so much more convenient and cost effective to take the bus. Gas for one person to drive to and from work isn't only not worth it, but harmful to the environment once we think about how many people commute alone.
Being on transit has given me lots of time to relax, reflect, and rest my mind - teaching all day, especially a subject like Home Economics where there is very little downtime compared to other courses, is draining so I have found that being on transit has really allowed me to rest after a long day being on my feet. It’s great not having to worry about traffic! No road rage, worrying about road conditions, or whether the bridges or highways are down.
As a teacher, we were interested in Joe’s perspective of how today's youth perceive car ownership:
I think it depends who you talk to. I notice that there are generally situations where youth work towards owning their own cars due to necessity (such as employment), and there are also situations where youth are given cars as gifts that may be considered status symbols rather than a necessary mode of transportation.
In our day and age, many youth are aware of the environmental impacts of driving and some choose to take transit, cycle, or walk. However, I still find that public transit is perceived to be an "alternative" mode of transportation which is troubling considering the stress that can come with owning a car.
All in all, it is personal philosophies and values that shape the decisions that go into our actions.
I'm by no means a developing transit snob, but I do believe it is beneficial to constantly ask ourselves whether or not we really need to drive ourselves places. Taking public transit has not only helped me get places with ease, but has helped me maintain my active lifestyle - it can be as easy as cycling to the skytrain and taking your bike with you if you're concerned about walking too far.
The Lower Mainland is beautiful and we can only experience it if we spend some time outside. It's amazing how easily a walk to the bus stop can clear your mind.
Joe Tong, a Master in Education student at UBC, graduated from the Secondary Home Economics program in 2009 as the convocation speaker. He is currently teaching with the Surrey School District
and is dedicated to incorporating current trends in family life education, foods and nutrition, and human ecology to the classroom using a wide variety of technology and teaching strategies.
Joe hopes to inspire students to develop and maintain relevant life skills that they will bring to their everyday lives.
Check out Joe's blog at or follow him on Twitter at @teachertong.