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As I head for a San Diego flight, I think back to the one and only time I took TheBus to the Honolulu airport.

A climate change colleague from Kauai had convinced me to try it out, saying he always takes TheBus when he comes to Oahu on day trips. Three dollars, direct from the airport to government offices. No car rental, no parking issues, no fuss. And better for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.

Great! I needed to leave directly from my downtown office and decided to take the No. 20 to the airport. It even had a cute little airplane icon in the banner.

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Hawaii, and in the nation. Cars and light-duty trucks make up 90% of total ground transportation emissions in Hawaii. One way to tackle this issue is to get more people to use transit, rather than drive.

And buses are more efficient than cars, emitting less as they move large numbers of people. They will emit even less by 2040 when the City and County of Honolulu plans to have an all-electric bus fleet.

But there’s more to the bus than going electric and reducing emissions. It can also address congestion, safety and inequities in the transportation system. If TheBus is to realize this great potential, it needs to shape up. And it can start with a small tweak — by adding luggage racks on the bus to the airport.

Online reviews are full of criticism for the airport bus. One frustrated reviewer says, “The bus is a joke. At the bus stop there is a sign saying no luggage on the bus. Ok no problem, that doesn’t affect me today but seems like the wrong attitude for an airport bus stop and could affect me in the future.”

According to TheBus, luggage is allowed but it must fit under the seat, or on your lap, and not obstruct the aisles or other seats. And sometimes it’s allowed at the discretion of the bus driver.

Fair enough, but too many variables for a traveler. Thankfully, my first time it worked out because I was traveling light. Note to self: Don’t take the bus if you have more than a shoulder bag.

Why would an airport bus not allow luggage?

Could it be a remnant of the now almost defunct taxi industry which may have campaigned for no luggage on TheBus back in the day? Maybe the bus is mostly for airport workers to commute to their jobs, which is a good thing for them, but not for travelers.

Other cities have figured out how to take travelers, and their luggage, on public buses to the airport.

Boston’s free bus takes you from Logan International Airport to downtown. This fare-free benefit extends to a couple of other connected routes as well, making it equitable for riders.

“Fare free buses simplify the riding experience and make trips faster and more reliable,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets for the City of Boston.

The smart citizens of Boston have figured out that if more of them take transit, that may relieve traffic congestion. Plus, it leaves them free to text, read, talk or doom scroll about climate change, without driving. 

For Hawaii, I imagine us spending less time in traffic, and more time surfing. And yes, the Boston bus has luggage racks.

Boulder, Colorado, is serviced by a massive intercity bus that has luggage compartments in the lower level. Oh, the Boulder bus has luggage racks, too.

When I land in San Diego, a public bus will take me and my luggage downtown for only $2.50. There is an area in the front for storing bags, or I can put them on a seat beside me if there’s room. Even in car country California, you — and your luggage — can take a public bus from the airport.

Not only are buses gentler on the climate, they are gentler on humans. The American Public Transportation Association says public transportation is one of the safest ways to travel. The National Institutes of Health confirm that city bus is a safer mode than car, not only for those in a car, but also for cyclists and pedestrians traveling along these bus routes. 

A public bus provides another option if you can’t drive or don’t want to. In 1997, 43% of 16-year-olds and 62% of 17-year-olds had driver’s licenses. In 2020, those numbers had fallen to 25% and 45%.

This means that fewer GenZers will drive personal vehicles, and instead, will rideshare, e-scooter or e-bike to get around. And since not everyone can afford an Uber, the bus will continue to provide that equitable solution to moving people around without the expense of owning a car.

For every rider, TheBus takes a car off the road and reduces traffic congestion. Think about the contra-flow carpool lane on Kalanianaole Highway, with TheBus happily chugging along carrying 20 plus cars worth of people, while traffic in the three regular lanes mimics a parking lot. 

The trick is how to equip and incentivize people to use something other than cars — and if it is easy to take the bus, more people will do it more often.

The airport bus could be a good place to start. But if you can’t bring luggage, TheBus is not a viable option. And even climate groupies like me will be discouraged from taking the airport bus.

For my San Diego trip, I am compelled to call for an Uber. It’s not even one of the green Ubers, and so, I make my polluting way to the airport, to get on my polluting flight to the mainland — with my luggage.