{"id":3715,"date":"2026-04-22T10:43:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T15:43:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rtamichigan.org\/?p=3715"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:43:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T15:43:35","slug":"bus-and-blooms-an-ode-to-transit-during-earth-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rtamichigan.org\/zh\/rta-news\/bus-and-blooms-an-ode-to-transit-during-earth-month","title":{"rendered":"Buses and Blooms: An ode to transit during Earth Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kristen Caffray, RTA<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the things I appreciate most about taking transit is the chance it gives you to read a book, catch up on messages, or simply look out the window. And what better time to look out the window than in April, during Earth Month, when everything is in bloom?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transit connects so many neighborhoods to parks \u2014 in Detroit there’s Palmer Park, Rouge Park, Belle Isle, the Riverwalk, to name a few, not to mention the dozens of smaller parks tucked between blocks. Especially this time of year, that bus window offers a front-row seat to one of the best shows in the city: spring in bloom.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Earth Month, I planned a visit to Palmer Park. Sorting through route options on the \u4ea4\u901a\u5e94\u7528\u7a0b\u5e8f<\/a>, I settled on DDOT’s Route 23 for this trip, which navigates up Hamilton Avenue from Detroit\u2019s New Center Neighborhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riding to Palmer Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
A map shows transit options near Caffray’s home in relation to Palmer Park. Map shown may not be all inclusive.\u202f<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Late April in Detroit has its own rhythms: red maples showing soft bursts of flowers, magnolias opening in pink and white, forsythia lighting up yards with bright yellow.\u00a0You can spot the famous daffodils that signal spring pushing through sidewalk beds and medians. Oaks and elms are beginning to leaf out, their greens still tender and fresh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the kind of detail that\u2019s easy to miss when you\u2019re driving, biking, or focused on the road. On the bus, you have time to notice. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A map highlights other parks and nearby transit stops Caffray enjoys visiting in Detroit. Map shown may not be all inclusive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Transit Matters During Earth Month (and Always!)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Earth Month is the perfect time to reflect on our human connection to nature \u2014 how we impact and are impacted by the natural world. You can mark the month by thinking about how transit supports healthy, livable communities today and for future generations.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaner Air, Healthier Communities, Happy Bees! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Air quality and health outcomes are correlated. Fewer cars on the road means fewer pollutants like carbon monoxide and particulate matter. In cities like Detroit, where air quality directly affects health outcomes, that\u2019s significant. When you ride the bus, you are helping reduce pollutants that contribute to asthma and other respiratory conditions. If you are curious about air quality in parts of Southeast Michigan, check out the\u00a0JustAir Dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another type of pollution that transit helps to reduce is noise pollution. This doesn\u2019t just create quieter communities; it also supports urban wildlife like birds, bees, and other pollinators.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that Detroit is a \u201cBee<\/em>\u00a0City?” Detroit joined the\u00a0Bee City USA<\/a>\u00a0initiative last year, committing to protecting pollinator habitats and promoting conservation efforts citywide. As we reduce noise, we also create more welcoming environments for bees, butterflies and other essential species that help our natural and built world bloom.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transit also reduces the need for large parking lots and wide roads near green spaces. Instead of dedicating land to pavement, we can keep more space for trees, trails, playgrounds and gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Notice When You\u2019re Not Behind the Wheel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Passing by scenes from the bus window remind me that parks aren\u2019t the only green spaces in Detroit. Front yards, medians, street trees, and lots full of wildflowers also play a role in the city\u2019s ecology.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easier to enjoy nature when you can put a name to what you see. So to close us out, here are some of the blooms you might spot, either out of the bus window or at the park itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photos (left to right): Chestnut Crabapple (1 and 2), Tulips, Violets, Ground Ivy, Double Daffodil<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kristin Caffray, or KC, is a Senior Planning Strategest at the RTA with expertise in transit, climate policy, and energy systems. Her work explores equity planning and energy democracy, and she has a deep commitment to public space, civic engagement, and sustainable urban mobility.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RTA’s mission is to create new and better ways to move and connect people.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kristen Caffray, RTA One of the things I appreciate most about taking transit is the chance it gives you to read a book, catch up on messages, or simply […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":3727,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBuses and Blooms: An Ode to Transit during Earth Month<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Senior Planning Strategist Kristen Caffray shares why Earth Month is the perfect time to reflect on how transit supports healthy, livable communities.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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