Since being in Australia one of the biggest things I have noticed and loved is the public transportation system. Right now I am staying in Melbourne Victoria with the program in a hostel located in the Central Business District (CBD). Everyday to get to class my friends and I take the free tram to the library. Melbourne has been coined “the thirty minute city” because they say you can get anywhere in the city within thirty minutes on this public transportation system, and if it is within the CBD it will be free thanks to the free tram zone. Coming from New Jersey I am pretty familiar with public transportation and have taken it several times, but the trams here are much cleaner and more efficient than NJ and NY transit. The investment in public transportation has made Melbourne a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable city. When coming back to the United States I would love to work with organizations or city governments to implement better public transportation systems. We had a guest lecturer today tell us about the city’s struggles with urban sprawl and how it is ruining the land that has great soil quality for agriculture. I was surprised to hear this city is struggling with sprawl when things seem closer together than all of the attractions in Orlando. I wonder how many emissions we would cut back on if Florida and Orlando invested in a large public transportation plan. Seeing a city like this gives me some hope for sustainable development and post growth plans. People here are really conscious of their ecological footprint and work to lower it as much as possible. This is inspiring me to try and make big changes when I return home. I have learned so much about permaculture and urban gardening that I am motivated to try them when I am living on my own at school and make my family try them at home. I am excited to see what else I learn during my time here.
