by Courtney Wight ’26 on October 23, 2025
environment
One of my favorite things about coming to Providence College was the ability to use public transportation to explore the city of Providence. My freshman year orientation leader was very passionate about the Rhode Island Public Transport Authority (RIPTA) and made sure to tell us all about the benefits of using the public transportation offered to explore areas throughout Rhode Island. I’ve been using the RIPTA for all four of my years at PC. Whether it is just a trip to the mall or going to Shaw’s, the RIPTA is easy to use and, best of all, free.
I acknowledge the system is not without its flaws. There have been frustrating days where I end up calling an Uber since buses can be delayed, leaving me waiting, or buses run too ahead of schedule that I miss. However, despite these misfortunes, the RIPTA has been extremely beneficial and useful during my time at PC.
Public transportation systems, like the RIPTA, have many added benefits rather than using a car all the time. Public transportation reduces the carbon footprint of each individual, reduces congestion and traffic, and promotes safer travel. Public transportation reduces the number of cars on the road, which leads to less air pollution, reduced individual carbon footprints, and less traffic. Additionally, when I am on the bus, I don’t have to worry about knowing where I’m going or the other drivers on the road. I wait for my stop to be announced, pull the yellow cord, and I can leave at my destination. The best part about using the RIPTA as a PC student is that the RIPTA is free for all with a PC ID. Even for those who are not PC students, public transportation is cheaper than using and owning a car. This allows more accessibility to those of all income levels to move around the city and state, creating a better-connected and serviced community.
While Rhode Island has a decent public transportation system, nothing compares to the public transportation systems I’ve had the benefit of experiencing when traveling abroad. For example, during my freshman year, I went on the Honors Spring Break trip to Paris. For most of our travels, we used the Metro since there was a stop close to our hotel. Using the system, we could navigate the city effectively, and it was relatively simple to use once you got the hang of it. Also through PC, I went to South Korea on a Maymester trip. On the trip, we stayed in Seoul and Busan, which are on opposite sides of the country. Instead of driving, we took the bullet train across, and it was the most amazing experience. The train ride took about two and a half hours to travel over 200 miles. Compared to the U.S., this would be roughly the same distance between Boston and NYC. This drive would normally take over four hours (with minimal traffic), but using high-speed bullet trains reduced the travel to two and a half hours.
One of my favorite things when traveling or discovering a new place is to use their public transportation. I’m not saying never drive a car again (I like my car too!), but having the freedom to quickly walk to a train or bus station, hop on, and arrive on time at my desired location is a must!