Community in Transit: An Altruistic Approach to Transportation and Community at Calvin College

1. Community in Transit: An Altruistic Approach to Transportation and Community at Calvin College Sarah Greenlee, John-Harmen Valk, & Laura Wright Existing Proposal Introduction Education • The working definition of altruism throughout our class has been that altruism is “other-regarding concern” involving notions of inter-subjectivity and ethical obligation. Inter-subjectivity is strongly influenced by the social and material conditions surrounding those in relationship to one another, and this can be clearly demonstrated in the city through an analysis of transportation. Some of the questions that arise in considering the issue of transportation and urban altruism are: • Who is my neighbor? • What is my duty to my neighbor? • How do my choices about transportation affect my ability to fulfill those obligations? • How can my choices about transportation change the social and material conditions of my environment? Aristotle and Aquinas would broach these additional questions: • What common telos or goal do I share with my neighbors and how is that being played out in the way in which I travel? • How does my locale affect my teleology? • What virtues am I forming through my habits? • What external laws about transportation might we institute to encourage virtue formation? • In an increasingly detached society, transportation can become an important way to foster community. Riding the bus or carpooling, for example, can be positive alternatives to commuting alone by car. In riding the bus or carpooling, an individual avoids the isolation of closing him or herself off from others both spatially and relationally. He or she may have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with those he or she encounters during the ride. Walking and biking provide other positive alternatives that encourage conversation (immediate neighborly interactions) and resource conservation (indirect resource interactions). • Transportation is an issue currently discussed by Calvin. However, lack of carpooling as well as use of public transportation indicates that more encouragement is needed to promote community-friendly transportation. To this end, we recommend the following suggestions for further improvement: • Passport and Orientation • This serves as an excellent time to discuss issues of transportation with incoming students who are making the decision of whether or not a car is necessary for life as a student at Calvin. • Highlight the bus system in more detail by showcasing a map of the bus system for all students. A representative from the RAPID is present at the Passport Information Fair, but more direct education must occur. During an orientation session, utilize a map to show where specific bus lines go, as well as the highlights of the various regions of the city through which the bus passes. • Emphasize the social and culture attractions of the city that are accessible by bus. For example, inform students of the #6 bus route that travels from Calvin through the Gaslight Village/Eastown area which many students frequent. Additionally, emphasize routes to the downtown core, as well as the attractions located in that area. Underscore accessibility to these regions of the city and the attractions they contain to impress upon prospective students the viability of utilizing public transportation. So doing will promote greater community: students will both hold a greater knowledge of the city and its various amenities, and they will undoubtedly increase their presence, interaction, and contribution with the city. • Upperclassmen Housing Expo • The transition to life off-campus is another critical juncture. Decisions that students make regarding house location impact the viability of public transportation use. Transportation also increases among upperclassmen as they must go to and from school. It is vital to emphasize community friendly transportation to sophomores as they enter the next stage. • Encourage students to choose house location in conjunction with access to public transportation. Accordingly, highlight detailed maps of the city that outline neighborhood boundaries as well as the bus routes running through them. Trace bus routes along streets to help students narrow their housing search to locations adjacent to bus routes. • We suggest a map such as to the left, albeit with more detail and greater regional coverage. • Conduct a comprehensive study of transportation at Calvin. Compile a database that includes the location of student (as well as faculty and staff) housing and determine the percentages of students living in the various neighborhoods of the city with an analysis of trends over time. Ascertain steps necessary to encourage use of public transportation among students. • The ESC’s motivation for their proposal is to promote “responsible, sustainable, creation-caring practices”. As such, this more ‘thoughtful’ transportation policy that discourages single-occupant car use has many suggestions such as: • Full subsidization of the bus • Increased parking permit fees • Encouraging carpooling by allocating ‘carpooling spots’ throughout the parking lots • Supporting cyclists by proving more bike racks, along with bike shelters • Creating initiatives for students and faculty who chose to use alternative modes of transportation by: - Giving monetary incentives to those who do not registrar their car • - Buying community bicycles free for faculty and student • use • - Campaigning for the RAPID to place a bus stop on • campus • As an endnote, the ESC promised to promote every new implemented program in freshman orientation and through ‘teach-ins’ sponsored by the ESC. Method Expansion upon the Proposal • The ESC proposal contains great statistics, information, and ideas. As ‘urban altruists,’ however, our group would like to make a few more suggestions not mentioned within the ESC proposal. These include: • Displaying a bus route map in Johnny’s and dorm lobbies • Making bus schedules available on campus, and • Adding a section to the ride board in Knightvision where commuter students can set up carpools. • Increased education about transportation options Purpose Statement • Having established the importance of transportation in community, our aim is to provide practical reforms in our current modes of transportation that might foster community within Calvin’s student body. After an in-depth analysis of the recently tabled Environmental Stewardship Coalition “Proposal for Transportation Reform at Calvin College” which is currently under review and waiting for approval, we wish to build upon the initiatives contained within. Accordingly, our own project seeks to: • Promote ESC’s proposal • Broaden the discussion to include a greater focus on community • Encourage administration to place a further emphasis on these issues through education, and • Provide more available information on the bus system to students. Lastname, James M., & Witte, Kenneth L. (1988). Lasdkjf ;klj sdfkl jlk;jsdf lk;sjdf klj. Bulletin of the Society 12 (4), 325-328.