Public transportation is green and saves you a lot of money. Here’s tips on how you take the eco-friendly route.
A Plan
If you’re not sure that 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 how it works. Before you know it, you’ll be making friends and riding along with everyone else.
Reduce Plane Trips
Try to lessen 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 disparaging than automobile trips.
Get On the Bus
Request that your community upgrade their diesel buses to fleets of LNG or biodiesel buses. This will reduce the CO2 emissions generated, lessen dependence on imported oil dependency, and in the case of biodiesel engines run cleaner and more efficient than petrochemical diesel.
Try the bus or train for longer trips. Buses, trains, light rail and ferries usually have devoted travel paths that are faster than sitting alone in your car, which can cut down travel times.
Walk to school
Most children live close enough to walk school, but reality is,few do. Instead of driving your children the few blocks, walk with them or allow them to take the school bus. Help organize a walking bus for other kids in your neighborhood.
Catch a taxi
Look out for hybrid or pedi-cab taxis for a greener option.
Telecommute
You can arrange to complete your work/presentation electronically, or via video conferencing. Video conferencing can reduce 99 percent of the energy used for a trans-continental flight.
Buy fare saver tickets
Return, weekly/monthly, or off-peak bus/train tickets are often considerably cheaper than single ride tickets, which will encourage you to use said bus/train more often.
Plan your trip
Get hold of 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 starting point and destination and calculate the fastest times and best route for your trip.
Be a Change Agent
If you don’t use public transport in your local area because the service doesn’t please 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 notify people you want them to.