- For a less funny treatment of this topic, see Transporter room.
The transporter is cost-cutting device used to transport characters from one scene to another without having to explain, much less show, how they did it.
It's a lot faster than walking, and because of this, is very useful in getting places quicker. This has been noted by many people. Leonard H. McCoy is a big scaredy cat, and doesn't like using that 'Damned Device', as is Kate Pulaski. Maybe they just like being late, or claim more expenses from the mileage required to use a shuttle. Trills before Jade Dixon were wusses as well, but because she had been a man several times before, she had enough balls to use it.
Transporters can be cross-circuited to 'B'.