The Public Transportation in the National Parks of the United States

Abstract

It is not easy for people without car to visit national parks in the United States. However, the railroad companies were involoved in the process of creating Yellowstone national park in 1870's and extended their lines to the nearest towns. The use of railroads had been very popular as a means of visiting national parks in early days though only welloff people could afford the cost.
A principal change occurred in 1914 when automobiles were allowed to enter the national park. The symbiotic relation between railroads and automobiles was maintained; people used railroads to the nearest station to the park, then took a concessionaire-oprated buses to the centers of each park. But, as a result of the improvement of automobiles and road conditions, they began to use their own automobiles all the way down to the park. Gradually automobiles took over not only stage coaches but also railroads.
Recently rapid increase of automobiles caused serious problems in the national park, which exists “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”. First, because of the lack of the pulic transportation, people without car were forced to abandon visiting national parks. Second, modern automobiles with every urban comfort not only interfere with the close relationships with the natural environment, but deteriorate the environment itself.
For the purpose of controlling the use of automobiles, some new ideas like the shuttle bus in Yosemite and Grand Canyon were realized, but they cannot solve the problems. The only solution lies in changing the American attitudes towards the automobiles.