Challenges

Lifetime cost of electric buses vs. diesel buses in U.S.$ excluding cost savings associated with health benefits.
Figure 14
Figure 15

There can be many challenges when you are trying to pass a proposal that goes against a large population of people (vehicle drivers). Of course, my proposal would cost lots of money from building bigger sidewalks, building affordable housing that is safe, buying electric buses, and lots more. As you can see in figure fourteen, electric buses cost a lot of money to buy, but are better in the long run and will be supporting a cause that is important. Diesel buses do not cause as much but cost a lot when it comes to fuel and maintenance. In my interview, Thomspon said one of the most stressful things with her job is that her not building parking is going to help with congestion even though people do not believe her. It is very hard going against a group of people who have had routines for years and do not like change. One of the biggest things that people do not enjoy changes and that is exactly what we are trying to do in Boston. In Mark Roseland’s reading, he talks about how hard it can be to make people change to sustainable options if they appear more difficult and expensive than non-sustainable choices (Roseland, 2012, p. 33). A lot of people are comfortable with driving and can be upset with these changes. Also, people who are not in the right physical shape can be very upset with these changes if they are now forced to walk a lot more than they are capable. Which in the long run would really help them, but in the beginning, it can be a lot. People also have the mindsets that they are going to die sooner then the Earth will, so they do not care what happens after they pass. This mindset is also not the best because other people will still be living on the Earth, even after they pass so it is not fair for others to fix everyone’s mistakes.