Riding the Bus Towards Change: Reza Cristián & MJ Carpio on Public Transit and Climate Justice

How much does the transportation sector contribute to the climate crisis? What communities are getting public transit right? How can we all work to get more public transit options in our communities?

Here to share why the future is public transit are MOVE MN Executive Director MJ Carpio and Joon Community Executive Director Reza Cristián. I chatted with MJ and Reza about how they got into transit work. And while both arrived in transit work from different places, a strong through line is their love for public transit and their experience using it - good and bad examples. MJ and Reza shared models of public transit abroad that are getting it right (Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris) - which really made me want to travel but mostly made me wish we had more rails and trains in this country.

Transportation is a top carbon polluter, especially in Minnesota - I did not know that! We also discussed the influence oil and gas companies have on politics, ever-rising gas prices, and the community infrastructure. Highways and land-use planning have shaped car dependence, sprawl, and community harm since the 1950s. Politicians are quoted literally saying how much they “need” Chevron to win an election. It’s not hard to see why gas-powered cars have become the standard above all else when many (most?) politicians have been bought by the oil and gas industries.

MJ and Reza shared practical ways to act locally—vote, engage public works staff (they work for us, remember!), ride transit to boost ridership metrics, and join community bus tours like #BusBabes. Remember, the work we do in our communities is all part of the larger ecosystem.

Learn more about Move MN and Joon Community.

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Music produced by M Baxley of Bear Witness Media