Bridges Changing Accessibility, Public Transportation, and Safety
3
plain
2024-05-15T05:49:19-07:00
Beginning in the first half of the 20th century, the Chester-Bridgeport Ferry was a approximately six minute ride across the Delaware River between Chester, Pennsylvania and Bridgeport, New Jersey, and often considered a favorable alternative to enduring Philadelphia traffic when trying to cross one of the few bridges connecting the two states. The ferry, not only creating a new mode of transportation, also boosted businesses on both sides of the river, turning Bridgeport into a bustling community that acted as a rest stop between Pennsylvania tourists' trips from their homes to the Jersey shores during the summer. After 44 years of business, the ferries were finally sold and the route was abandoned, and its commuters began to instead utilize the Commodore Barry Bridge that had been erected almost directly over top of the ferries’ pathway.
This change resulted in some problems, such as the health of the small businesses who had lost so much business. Further, the end of yet another mode of public transportation likely affected certain demographic groups. On the other hand, this change also led to some benefits in the realm of improving mobility justice. First, for those who could not afford the ferry fee, nor the time it would take to travel through traffic congestion found near Philadelphia bridges, this new bridge was a time-efficient, convenient option. Also, the end of the ferry to make way for the bridge was a great move in the direction of combating climate change. Ferries release an exuberant amount of CO2 emissions, on top of the emissions of the cars that were still being used by passengers before and after their six minute ride. By eliminating the boats, travelers continued to use their cars, but were no longer adding onto their emissions by taking the ferry.
--Grace McEntee
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