Driving in Miami-Dade is something that just about everyone will agree is frustrating — with bumper-to-bumper traffic jams, last-minute merges and inevitable road rage. Yet many residents would still rather spend nearly three full days a year stuck in traffic than take public transportation.
Most people who use public transit in Miami-Dade do it because they have to. But some choose it intentionally, aiming for a more sustainable lifestyle for both their health and the planet.
How you get around is one of the biggest decisions you make each day that affects the climate. Transportation is the largest source of climate-warming emissions in the United States, and a recent National Parks Conservation Association study found that cars in South Florida pump out as much pollution as 30 coal plants. Still, even the shortest trips are often taken by car.
Z Spicer, a 25-year-old climate justice organizer for Catalyst Miami, is trying to shift that mindset…