There are numerous sources of transportation which directly pollute the air and contribute to climate change. However, there are easy and accessible ways of swapping traditional forms of transportation for greener ones.
Biking
- Bicycle riding uses minimal fossil fuels and is a pollution-free mode of transport.
- There are no non-renewable fuels burned by riding a bike.
- Bikes reduce the need to build, service and dispose of cars.
- Bicycle riding conserves roadway and residential space, thereby providing opportunities for less concrete and more plant life in urban areas.
- Bonus: Biking can improve your own personal health!
Interested in a global perspective? Check out this information on the benefits of biking from the state of Queensland in Australia. Or this Biofriendly Planet Magazine article.
Driving
Even if you do need to drive a car, there are ways to be more sustainable.
- Each vehicle used for one-way car sharing can eliminate as many as 11 cars from the streets, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 13 metric tons a year, as reported by The Guardian.
- Car-sharing means fewer automobile miles driven and less air pollution.
- Check out the EPA’s recommendations on reducing pollution from vehicles, independent of car-sharing.
Interested in learning more about the benefits of car-sharing? Check out this article from Wheels for Wishes, affiliated with the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Walking
- Walking is a cheap transportation option.
- Walking creates no air pollution or carbon emissions.
- Walking is an excellent form of exercise!
Check out this Treehugger article about walking as a means of transportation.