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Going Green

How to Green Your Public Transportation
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 10.19.06

What’s the Big Deal?
Public Transportation, while maybe not as enjoyable as commuting in your own personal vehicle, does ease congestion, reduce emissions, and give you plenty of quality time to people watch, as well as get to know your “neighbours.” In addition, public transportation allows you to relax, read or nap during that commute instead of fighting and stressing and feeling the road rage. So, what do we mean by public transportation? Well, for this article we are focusing on buses, trains, planes and ferries/boats, whether used for the daily commute or just to get around. For those of you interested in leaving that car at home, these tips discuss the merits of public transportation as well as offer suggestions for how to expand and improve public transportation in your community.

1. A (hu)man with a Plan.

If you’re not sure you can do the public transportation thing, start small with one a goal of taking public transportation at least one day a week until you figure out the system. Before you know it, you’ll be making friends and riding along with everyone else.

2. Come Fly With Me.

Try to reduce the number of plane trips you take and try not to use a plane for any trips under 1000km. Plane trips are way more environmentally destructive than automobile trips.

3. Get On the Bus.

Write to your city representatives to request that your community upgrade their diesel buses to fleets of LNG or biodiesel buses. This will reduce the CO2 emissions generated, reduce dependence on imported oil dependency, and in the case of biodiesel engines actually run cleaner and more efficient than petrochemical diesel.

4. Try the bus or train for longer trips.

Buses, trains, light rail and ferries generally have dedicated travel paths that are quicker than sitting alone in your car, which can cut down travel times.

5. Walk to school.

Most children live close enough to walk school, but few do. Instead of driving your children the few blocks, walk with them or allow them to take the school bus.

6. Catch a taxi.

Really these are a form of public transport because you don’t own them, and when you don’t need the service they are made available for others to use. Look out for hybrid or pedi-cab taxis for an even greener option.

7. Telecommute.

Don’t drive to the office, or fly to that conference, if you can arrange to complete your work/presentation electronically, or via video conferencing. Video conferencing can reduce 99% of the energy used for a trans-continental flight.

8. Buy fare saver tickets.

Return, weekly/monthly, or off-peak bus/train tickets are often significantly cheaper than single ride tickets, which will encourage you to use said bus/train more often.

9. Plan your trip.

Obtain timetable and route-maps for your journey to know what to expect in advance. Many municipal public transport systems now have free online databases than will take your staring point and destination and calculate the fastest times and best route for your trip. This can take the uncertainty out of public transport travel.

10. Be a Change Agent.

If you don’t use public transport in your local area because the service doesn’t work for you, for whatever reason, then get it changed. Write letters to your city newspaper, comment on their online stories that address urban travel, join a public transport advocacy group, and meet with your local government representative. Things won’t change, until you inform people you want them to.

1. Buy Carbon Offsets for your trips.

There are several new groups out there offering carbon offsets to cover a variety of your carbon concerns. One example is a British Airways partnership with Climate Care to offset passenger emissions for air travel.

2. Don’t own a car.

Plan your life so you live near where you work, or on a public transportation route, and also where you can get too all needed services without the use of an automobile.

3. Get Loud.

While public transportation is a good idea, some buses are not clean. If you live in an area with bad transportation, make your voice heard with the people that make decisions and pay the bills, that you want a clean fuel or hybrid bus. Not only is the exhaust from that old bus a nuisance, its also bad for your public health. Tell that dirty bus to hit the road.

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