Testimonial by Brandon Pham
From bus to mountains, from streets to peaks, from transit to trails, this project will open up endless possibilities for many people to interact with nature. I had the immense privilege of participating in the pilot for Transit 2 Trails (T2T), and it was an incredible experience.
Prior to T2T, the only green spaces I could easily access were parks and community gardens. Spaces like hiking trails or the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument were harder to reach so I thought of them as “special occasions” because they required more planning.
To begin, my experience going on the T2T shuttle bus was valuable, as it showed how easy it was to go to a hiking trail. I was somewhat familiar with the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, but I had never taken the time to explore the trails and attractions that were just in my backyard. To my surprise, the shuttle bus to the Mount Wilson observatory was quick, truly demonstrating how accessible these trails are.
Something also worth mentioning is that even if I had known about these attractions, I likely would not have made the effort to plan a visit. Without my own car, a trip to Mount Wilson would have felt like an inconvenience to whoever was driving me. However, thanks to T2T, public transportation to these trails not only eliminates many of the burdens of planning a visit, such as figuring out who will drive me but also encourages people like me to experience beautiful nature.
In addition, public transportation is good for the environment which is an added benefit of this project. When T2T becomes a reality, I will definitely take advantage of it; it is a great way to easily get out to nature.
Ultimately, I am very grateful to be one of the participants in this pilot. It was a wonderful experience not only to tour Mount Wilson Observatory but also to reconnect with the people who came.
