Transit

By Marina Hanes

Rising gas prices and threats of global warming make alternative modes of transportation more appealing, but do you know which alternative is right for your lifestyle?

Whether you change your existing habits with the car you currently drive or you venture to give another mode of transportation a try, rest assure that the tips in this transit guide will provide you with the knowledge to save money and improve air quality in your area. Even if you have not become apart of the environmental bandwagon, it’s beneficial to know about alternatives that can save you time and money.

Did you know that 25% of all air pollution nationwide is caused by emissions from cars and trucks? According to the University of California, “Today the amount of carbon dumped globally into the atmosphere corresponds, on average, to one ton per person on the planet, each year”, however, in the United States, carbon emissions per capita are 5 tons a year. Carbon dioxide is a gas that traps heat in the Earth instead of letting it escape, which significantly contributes to global warming, and automobiles (the second largest source of carbon dioxide) account for almost 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

In addition to the negative effects air pollution has on the Earth, it also has negative effects on the health of humans, animals and plants. Air pollution can cause minor symptoms like irritated eyes, nose and throat as well as more serious symptoms. The National Safety Council says, “Some contaminants found in polluted air (e.g. benzene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide) can cause cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve damage, and long-term injury to the lungs and breathing passages.” Decreasing the amount of these harmful emissions in the air can prevent these serious health risks.

Utilizing alternative modes of transportation is a responsible decision that lessens the amount of stress being put on the environment and protects the health of sensitive populations (children, people with respiratory diseases and the elderly).

While finding a balance between environmentally friendly and convenient is often difficult to do in our busy lifestyles, there are many different ways to travel, so read below to find out which type of transportation is right for you and the environment.

Automobiles

How can you “green” the vehicle you already drive? If you don’t have enough money to buy a new hybrid or you want to wait until technology improves, you can still decrease your negative impact on air quality and make your car more environmentally friendly by following the tips below:

Reduce the number of trips you make by combining errands. For example, plan to grocery shop every two weeks, and during the time between your next shopping visit, create a running list of things you will need.

Refuel your car during the cooler times of the day to prevent gas fumes from heating up and creating ozone.

Do not top off your gas tank, because it emits fumes into the air that can form ozone when they mix with the sun and heat. Topping off also increases your chance of spilling gasoline onto the ground, which can runoff and potentially contaminate surface water and/or groundwater.

Do not speed. Give yourself enough time to get to your destination without rushing, because pushing the pedal to the metal only burns more fuel more quickly.

Do not ignore the “check engine” light. Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) programs have reduced air pollution by up to 30% in some states.

Replace your vehicle’s air filter regularly. The U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. EPA’s website, www.FuelEconomy.gov , says changing the air filter can help the driver save 55 gallons of fuel a year.

>If you are thinking about trading in your car for a hybrid, consider the pros and cons. Hybrids may solve some of our air pollution problems since they get more gallons per mile, but they create new problems too. Disposal of the hybrid’s battery as well as having to extract nickel for the battery are issues that have made the hybrid controversial. It’s a question of whether the ends justify the means–the production is inefficient but the product is efficient.

Walking & Biking

Depending upon where you live, walking or riding a bike to work and to complete errands may be a feasible alternative. If you live within a few miles from the mall and have food and clothing stores a few blocks away, walking or riding a bike can help save you gas money. However, if you have to commute long distances to work or just to find a convenient store, this option is obviously not fit for your lifestyle.

Choosing to walk or ride a bike helps improve air quality, because these activities do not emit any toxic pollutants into the air. Also these activities do not pose a threat to local wildlife, and they help reduce traffic congestion in the community.

Riding a bike is different than driving a car, so know your hand signals. Use your left hand only when signaling–extend your arm straight out to signal a left turn, form your arm in a right angle with your hand pointing to the sky to signal a right turn, and form your arm in a right angle with your hand facing the ground to signal a stop. For visual aids for the hand signals and other bicycle safety procedures, visit www.bikemiamivalley.org/safety1.htm . Another way to increase your safety on the road is to wear headgear and reflective or bright colored clothing. Try to cycle or walk on the sidewalks, but in areas that are not pedestrian friendly, be sure to use caution when cycling alongside vehicles–cycle with traffic but walk against traffic.

While it’s easier to be lazy and jump in your car and go, walking or riding a bike instead can make a significant impact as well as motivate others to do the same. Below are some ways in which you can make walking or riding a bike more suitable for your lifestyle:

Finding it difficult to fit a 20-minute workout into your daily activities? Walking to a store or riding your bike to work can help you meet your goal.

If you fear being stuck in sweaty clothes at work, put a change of clothes in a backpack when you ride your bike.

This is your excuse to wear more comfortable shoes at work. Women, keep a pair of heels at work or invest in a pair of dress shoes with a collapsible heel (http://www.camileonheels.com/ ) so you don’t have to give up your sense of style. Men, purchase an all-purpose shoe like the new model from Diesel that can be a sneaker, dress shoe, mid-top and high-top all with the convenience of Velcro shields.

Carpooling

Setting up a carpooling schedule with coworkers, family and friends is a smart way to save money and decrease the amount of unnecessary vehicles on the road. Maybe you have a coworker that drives past or near your house every day on his/her way to work. Or maybe you have children who are involved in extracurricular activities like sports, theater or study groups. All it takes is a phone call, and you can be on your way to setting up a carpooling schedule for your own needs or for your family’s needs.

Carpooling is only beneficial when it’s convenient, so you may have to make adjustments along the way to make it advantageous for both the driver and rider. Maybe you will choose to switch who the driver is every other week. If one person decides to be the driver at all times, then the rider(s) can compensate the driver by paying for half of the driver’s gasoline expense. Carpooling is a successful alternative when there is communication and an equal give and take relationship.

Carpooling Services

Some areas may even have carpooling services like Northeast Ohio’s program called OhioRideShare. OhioRideShare’s online service enables people in 13 counties to find partners for carpooling. This service has many advantages including providing a safe, convenient way to decrease air pollution, find rides and save money.

It’s common to wonder how safe these types of services are, and Kathy Zook, Senior Manager of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments says, “E & E [Environmental and Ecology, Inc.] is the one who has created this system, so they have been using it for years and really there hasn’t been…any criminal things that we are aware of [and] that says good positive things.” It’s still advised that common sense be used when finding a carpooling partner. The user has the ability to block personal information like their home address from other users’ view, and it may be best to initially meet your carpooling partner at a public place to get to know them. You may even make a friend during the process too. In addition, some services like OhioRideShare may even pay for your way home if your driver cannot pick you up due to an emergency–check with the service to see if this is offered and what is considered a qualifying emergency.

As an OhioRideShare user, Zook has found the service to be “very beneficial and also very flexible”. The program enabled Zook’s household to decrease its consumption of gasoline by half. On the website, www.OhioRideShare.com , users can calculate how much they are saving as well as how they are contributing to decreasing air emissions.

Car Share Programs

Producing an automobile costs time, money and natural resources. Some forms of production are more wasteful than others, and according to www.CarSharing.net , 20,000,000 cars were made but not sold in 1998. Fortunately, car-sharing programs are becoming more available in the United States and CarSharing.net has 18 programs in America with more in the process of being developed. There are also car-sharing programs for specific areas like www.IgoCars.org , which provides service to Chicago, Illinois.

These programs allow individuals to borrow a car for a monthly fee. Some programs charge a membership fee or a monthly fee and a mileage fee. Often they have a few payment options to choose from that correspond to how much you will need to drive the car. Try to estimate your mileage per week and pick the one that best suits your needs so you don’t waste money.

Another advantage to using a car-sharing program is that you may have the opportunity to drive a hybrid car or a car with better mileage, which helps the environment and saves on gas. These programs benefit people who may need a car every once in a while if the place they need to go to is not within walking distance or on the public transportation’s route. Also individuals who are attending college and living on campus might only need a car during the weekends.

Car sharing programs are a legitimate option to consider, because purchasing a car is not always the answer. Cars require constant upkeep and the more they are used, the more likely they will need more expensive repairs down the road. Also cars like computers are going through constant transformations due to technological advances, so it’s not always a good idea to purchase the new model without waiting for the company to improve the design and work out its problems. Share a hybrid to see if you like it first before making the commitment to own one.

Car sharing may also be ideal if most of your trips can be accomplished by using public transportation. It’s costly to make the high car payments and pay for public transportation, especially in cities where the transit’s riding fees may be more expensive. Sharing a car for those few trips that cannot be achieved by means of mass transit provides some financial freedom and still decreases pollution in the environment since the car will be used on rare occasions.

Mass Transit

Mass transit like buses and subways are a practical option if you live in or near a city. Most transit services charge a flat rate or they might provide you with the option of purchasing a booklet of year-round tickets at a discounted price.

There are many ways in which mass transportation can work for you. Below are some reasons why riding a bus, rail or train can be ideal:

It can spare you the time and money of parking your car, which in turn may even help you with time management and ease some stress.

You are giving back to your community by supporting this service that some people without a car rely on for every day commuting.

The travel time can be used to catch up on paper work, computer work, phone calls, reading, sleeping, eating, etc. You can multitask without having to worry about getting into an accident.

Bringing your bicycle onboard can make the trip from the public transportation’s endpoint to your final destination faster. Check with the rail, train or bus service’s policy on bicycles first.

If you are worried about how you are going to carry all of your belongings without breaking your back, invest in a bag with wheels.

Bus, Rail & Train

According to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, vehicles produce an estimated 48% of carbon monoxide, 32% nitrogen oxides and 59% of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. These pollutants are what contribute to smog, acid rain and global warming, and you have the opportunity to reduce them by utilizing mass transportation like buses, rails and trains.

The rail system is a type of mass transit system that is more efficient as opposed to private vehicles. In an article entitled “Private Transportation vs. Mass Transit: The Environmental Aspects,” Stephanie Corson explains that it’s more cost effective and efficient to build rail transit systems than roads for cars. Corson also provides the following figures showing how mass transit can be fuel efficient; “A single person who commutes via a transit system instead of driving alone will save 200 gallons of gasoline per year.” When comparing cars, buses and rails, Corson states, “A car occupied by one person produces on average 2.06 grams/passenger-mile (g/pm) of nitrogen oxide for work trips. A fully occupied transit bus, on the other hand, would produce 1.54 g/pm, while a fully occupied rail transit system would produce only 0.47 g/pm for the same distance.”

Trains are not the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation due to the natural resources and energy that are required to maintain and construct railroad tracks. According to the Swedish Research Council, it takes 900 tons of material (94% gravel, 4% concrete and 2% steel) to create 6.9 kilometers of railroad track. A train may emit lower net emissions of carbon dioxide, but if a train is powered by electricity, it costs one third more to supply the energy. Alternatively, if a train runs on diesel it’s worse in terms of emissions and energy costs. So if a rail transit system is accessible in your area, take advantage of it or travel by bus instead of supporting the inefficient train system.

Flying

When is it better to fly than drive? Although jets consume significant amounts of fuel and emit more greenhouse gases than cars, it’s economical to fly when you have a long distance to travel. Because many passengers are being transported at one time, the emission of greenhouse gases is offset since fewer cars are on the road.

Flying may involve long lines, multiple security checks and flight delays, but it may be more financially sound for someone to pay for a ticket to fly across the country rather than drive and pay more money for gasoline than you would for a ticket. In other words, drive your car for shorter distances and fly when you have to take a longer trip.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

It’s difficult to put each mode of transportation into perspective when there are both pros and cons with each, so listed below are the carbon dioxide emissions, according to the National Energy Foundation Simple Carbon Calculator (http://www.nef.org.uk/greencompany/co2calculator.htm ) for a car fueled by gasoline, an airplane and a train/bus (figures are based on 22,000 miles traveled per year or approximately an hour of driving per day):

Car emits 7,920,000 grams of carbon dioxide per year; the U.S. EPA’s Green Guide shows that a hybrid like the 2007 Toyota Prius would emit 6,490,000 grams or less of carbon dioxide per year for 22,000 miles.

Airplane (short-haul trips in economy class) emits 6,380,000 grams of carbon dioxide per year or 9,570,000 grams of carbon dioxide per year for business class travel with fewer seats.

Train/Bus emits 2,200,000 grams of carbon dioxide per year.

As for the rail, the Association of Train Operating Companies’ (ATOC) Energy and Emissions Statement 2006/2007 report says this past year the rail emitted a quarter of the carbon dioxide that an airplane emits.

Be a Role Model

Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth” details the catastrophic effects of global warming if no action is done to decrease our pollution caused by the over consumption of natural resources. If you never see Gore’s film, the least thing you can do is visit www.MyFootprint.org . All you have to do is answer 15 questions then the website calculates the footprint that you make on the Earth. You may be surprised at how wasteful you are. According to my survey, if everyone lived like me, we would need 3.7 planets to survive. My ecological footprint is 17 acres, and the average ecological footprint in our country is 24 acres per person. There only exists 4.5 acres per person for our world to be ecologically productive.

Maybe after seeing that your impact on the world is significant, you will think about re-evaluating your lifestyle and make an effort to implement an alternative mode of transportation into your life. Be a role model for others to follow. Show how easy it is to reduce your carbon footprint.

For more information:

CarSharing.net — Car Sharing Network: Car Sharing in Your City. November 26, 2007.

Corson, Stephanie. “Private Transportation vs. Mass Transit: The Environmental Aspects.” — University of South Florida. 26 November 2007.

“This or That: Flying vs. Driving?” — Gibson, Lara. 29 October 2007.

Global Warming: The Rise of CO2 & Warming . 2002. University of California. 24 November 2007.

Green Vehicle Guide — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 4 December 2007

Information About Sustainable Transportation . 2001. Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. 26 November 2007. Mack, Eric. “Driving on Air: An emission-free car that runs on air is poised for mass production.” Plenty 2007;19:36.

“Rail CO2 Emissions ‘Down by 5%’ in a Year.” 31 October 2007. Business Travel World. 4 December 2007.

Railroad Not as Environmentally Friendly as the Train . 2006. The Swedish Research Council. 26 November 2007.

Section 1: Background on Air Pollution . 6 March 2006. National Safety Council. 26 November 2007.

Simplify Your Life, Share Our Cars . 2006. I-GO. 26 November 2007.

Why Traveling by Rail is Better for the Environment — Friends of the Earth. 26 November 2007.