mothers for clean air.pdf

Bus Riders Union members Elena Astilleros and Rosa Miranda speak out on why they’re fighting to reduce cars and get bus-only lanes in the auto-addicted streets of Los Angeles.

What’s your vision for a Clean Air future in Los Angeles?

Rosa:  The most important thing is to have better transportation; more buses and less cars because cars in the street mean more smog and pollution. Anthony, my 7 year old has asthma and we live in central L.A. where the air is very polluted.  I want the air to be clean so that children can play outside without fearing an allergic attack because of smog.

Why do you want bus-only lanes?

Bus-only lanes would help us get to places much faster.  Wilshire is the most crowded street during rush hour when people need it the most.  I use the 720 bus during rush hour and bus-only lanes would help many riders.  Being stuck in traffic makes service really bad for low income people who take the bus, which can lead to more people driving and more cars. I know councilmember Wendy Greuel (Chair of the L.A. Transportation Committee) is also a mother with a son who understands the importance of the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project. I want 100% of her support so that we get bus-only lanes implemented in the city.

What ‘s your recipe for a sustainable transportation system?

Elena:  The baseline is to double the bus fleet but we need more if we’re going to get people out of their cars and to places.  We need to have a variety of fast, good, easy bus service and bus-only lanes all over the county.  More people are coming to the city and people with cars will only make pollution levels more hideous. We need to get people out of their cars refocus their attention to challenging the hegemony of the car, challenging the hegemony of individualism. Everyone says they love their cars when I talk about bus-only lanes but I ask them “Do you love the planet? Do you care about people in Tuvalu?”  When I frame what’s at stake globally and broadly people realize they don’t “love” their cars that much.

How does being a parent motivate you to fight?

When you look at your kids you want the most beautiful things for them, complete happiness and health.  As a parent we set the example for the next generation and our leadership expands their worldview.  I hope many parents will join our clean air fight and open the possibility of transforming ourselves, our children, and the city.