How Lack of Reliable Transportation Creates Barriers to Work, Health, and Opportunity
Recently, I was transferred to a different work location in my day job. I didn’t feel like the move was optional. But there’s one major problem: I don’t have a car. And while that might sound like an inconvenience to some, in reality, it’s a barrier — one that touches every part of my life and wellbeing.
When people say things like, “You should just work from home,” or “Take a closer, lower-paying job,” it may sound like practical advice. But it’s not that simple. Those suggestions ignore the reality that transportation is a social determinant of health — one of the essential conditions that shape how we live, work, and thrive.
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I had a car accident almost three years ago at Christmas. It put into motion a chain of events that created tremendous stress. My life has been impacted in ways that make daily activities difficult. |
Transportation Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a Lifeline
Transportation isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about access — access to work, to healthcare, to groceries, to community, to stability.
When you don’t have reliable transportation:
* You might lose your job because you can’t physically get there.
* You might miss medical appointments.
* You might have to turn down better opportunities because you can’t reach them.
* You might experience isolation, which affects mental health.
* You might spend far more time, energy, and money trying to piece together rides or rely on inconsistent options.
It becomes a domino effect — one thing leads to another, and before you know it, something as simple as not having a car starts to create a cascade of stress, instability, and poor health outcomes.
The Mental and Emotional Toll
People often underestimate the psychological weight of transportation insecurity. It’s not just logistical; it’s emotional. It’s waking up every morning wondering how you’re going to make it to work. It’s the exhaustion of coordinating rides, paying high fares, or being treated like your needs are an inconvenience.
And when people respond with, “Just find another job,” or “Work from home,” or “Get a job closer to home,” they may mean well — but those statements are often not realistic. Not every town has abundant job opportunities. Many communities don’t have industries that match your skills, pay a living wage, or offer benefits. “Just find something closer” ignores the economic realities people face.
Instead of solving the problem, those statements add stress. They make it sound like the person is at fault for structural barriers that are outside their control.
Transportation as a Social Determinant of Health
According to public health research, transportation access affects nearly every other social determinant of health:
Economic stability:You can’t keep or advance in a job you can’t get to.
Education: You may miss out on training or classes.
Health care access: No ride means missed appointments and worse outcomes.
Neighborhood and environment: You’re limited to where you can live, often in less resourced areas.
Social and community context: Lack of mobility leads to isolation and exclusion.
In short, transportation is a thread woven through every part of life. When that thread is missing, the fabric starts to unravel.
What Needs to Change
We need to stop treating transportation like a personal failing and start recognizing it as a public health and equity issue.
Employers, policymakers, and communities need to:
* Consider transportation when transferring or hiring employees.
* Support public transit options and safe, affordable alternatives.
* Provide stipends or assistance for commuting costs.
* Understand that “just work from home” or “find a closer job” are not universal solutions.
Because when we fail to account for transportation, we’re not just talking about how someone gets to work — we’re talking about whether they can sustain their health, stability, and dignity.
The Bigger Picture
Transportation isn’t an isolated issue. It’s part of a bigger system — a cesspool, really — where inequities feed into each other. When one basic need is unmet, it starts to affect everything else.
We can’t talk about health, opportunity, or equality without talking about access. And access starts with the ability to move — freely, reliably, and safely.
Transportation isn’t a privilege. It’s a foundation. And everyone deserves it.
Author’s Note
I’m currently navigating this challenge myself. Being transferred to a new work location without reliable transportation has shown me just how much access — or the lack of it — can shape a person’s entire life.
If we want to create healthier, more equitable communities, we have to acknowledge transportation as a core part of that conversation. Everyone deserves the chance to get where they need to go — and to build a life that isn’t limited by the roadblocks in front of them.
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