One thing that has become ingrained in the American mind is that public transportation is for poor people. Wrong! People only think that because public transportation in this area is so inefficient. People don’t want to pay taxes to fund this superb service, and, consequently, it deteriorates. However, there’s a relatively new bus line in town and it’s always empty! It should be at least half full at all times! NO high school student should be driving a car to school with four empty seats when there’s a bus that stops right at the curb and runs from six in the morning to seven thirty at night!

A common excuse for not using the bus is the fact that it’s in disrepair. But why is it falling apart? It’s almost brand new! I’ll tell you why; because nobody uses it. It’s already been forced to discontinue Saturday and Sunday service and it’s already running less often on the weekdays!

It’s terrible! Seniors: I ask you; stop using your cars. Take the bus or walk to school. Over 90 percent of the student body lives in Falls Church, so can’t you at least carpool? If you must drive, at least trade in your car for a hybrid or an electric car.

But what incentive can we offer? How can we get kids out of their cars? So many Americans believe that it’s their right to own a car. Kids assume that it’s a necessity. Kids have become so accustomed to it that the thought of not buying a car before they’re out of college has never crossed their minds.

Think of the advantages of public transportation! Once public transportation starts to be used often enough, it will be just as efficient as your car (and safer), and it will be better for the environment. (I’m not just talking about the air pollution aspect; cars also produce noise pollution, and, with an inexperienced driver behind the wheel, they pose a threat not only to the driver, but also to all of those around him.) If we would pay more for public transportation, we would lose something at first but we’d get at least twice of what we paid later on!

GMHS students; I challenge you to go one week without driving your car to school. Just one week. Afterwards, tell Lasso Online about it.

Now I know that I’ll probably need a bodyguard after saying this, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I propose that we get rid of the senior parking lot to make way for something more useful. Put up a fence and make a small field for kids to play soccer and eat lunch in the sun! Now I know that there are some special cases and that is why we might be able to leave a couple of spots. Nevertheless, the fact that so many kids drive to school when there is a perfectly good bus line is a disgrace.