Two buses, three hours and 13 miles: how Americans in ‘transit deserts’ get groceries without cars

Millions of Americans living in “transit deserts” face significant challenges accessing groceries without cars, as public transportation services decline amid funding cuts. Zen’Yari Winters, a Memphis resident, exemplifies this struggle: a trip that should take 20 minutes by bus to her job or grocery store now requires two buses, three hours, and 13 miles. With the closure of the only full-service grocer in her neighborhood, Winters relies on costly online grocery deliveries, which are not fully covered by food assistance programs, highlighting the financial and logistical burdens transit-poor communities endure. Approximately 25 million Americans live in areas where public transit supply falls short of demand, making access to healthy and affordable food a daily challenge. Research indicates that improving transit access can reduce food insecurity, yet many cities, including Memphis, Providence, and Duluth, have cut bus services in recent years. These reductions are largely attributed to the expiration of $70 billion in federal Covid-era funding, which had temporarily supported transit systems nationwide. As this funding dries up, agencies face a “transit fiscal cliff,” forcing service cuts, route eliminations, and fewer stops, further limiting residents’ mobility. The consequences of reduced transit service extend beyond inconvenience. Studies show that removing bus stops correlates with decreased purchases of nutritious foods, as residents turn to closer but often less healthy options like corner stores. This shift exacerbates food insecurity and health disparities in vulnerable communities. The situation is compounded by rising food insecurity nationwide, driven by economic instability and potential cuts to federal food aid programs such as SNAP. In Memphis, the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s post-pandemic efforts to balance ridership and finances have led to reduced service and delayed repairs, worsening the transit challenges faced by residents like Winters. The combination of shrinking transit options and increasing food insecurity underscores a growing crisis in urban mobility and public health, with millions of Americans caught in the gap between transportation access and basic needs.