Every full bus eliminates dozens of individual cars from the roads. This reduction helps decrease emissions, contributing to better air quality. It also mitigates the release of tire particulate matter into the atmosphere.

Published on August 20, 2026, at 1:24 p.m. EDT

Article by Sergio Lopez and Charlotte (Jingqi) Liang for San Jose Spotlight, a nonprofit news organization focused on local political and business reporting in San Jose, Santa Clara County, and the South Bay.

For those navigating through Silicon Valley, traffic might seem like just another part of daily life. Long lines of cars on Highway 101 during rush hours or buses idling at crowded stops can feel inevitable. Even students waiting by busy intersections are often seen as a part of the typical living experience here.

This normalization, though, conceals a significant issue. Our roads, filled with vehicles, constitute a public health crisis that’s unfolding in front of us.