Alternative Transportation
Early in the mid-twentieth century the United States began a development pattern that made us dependent on the automobile. Suburban communities developed that were not dense enough to support good public transportation. At the same time, because Americans moved from city to suburb, the density of the cities shrank to the point where urban public transportation had to be subsidized or reduced to a degree that it could not adequately serve the people. At the same time this pattern seemed to be the American dream come true. Everyone could be a king, not only with his or her own private little castle and grounds, but with private transportation as well.
By the time people realized what an inefficient, wasteful way this was to live, the public transportation system was in shambles. Attempts to repair public transit were begun in the 1980’s, but so far our costly and protracted efforts are yielding inadequate results. In order to sustain our dependence on the automobile we became dependant on imported oil that continues to cause a massive trade deficit and risks geopolitical destabilization.
The ultimate goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage is for everyone to leave a zero carbon footprint. Few of us have the resources to buy an electric car so we can use our rooftop solar collectors to recharge its recyclable batteries. We can work toward that end, but in the meantime, right now, we can make incremental adjustments in our lifestyles directed at shrinking our carbon footprint, reducing our need for gasoline, saving money, and improving public transportation through properly directed legislation.
What we can do
Alternative transportation ideas that cost $0.00
Walk to close-by destinations instead of driving.
Errand share. Develop relations with neighbors to consolidate trips to shops that are beyond walking distance.
Ride share. Develop neighborhood networks to coordinate commutes so single occupancy trips to work are minimized.
Alternative transportation ideas that cost very little
Take Public Transportation as often as possible
More costly investments
Buy a bicycle and extend your non-automobile errand range.
Buy a hybrid or battery-powered car.
How much can I save for a $0.00 investment?
Example 1
Walking is cheap. Except for shoe leather there is no investment, and even a new pair of shoes may be offset by better health and fewer medical bills. By walking instead of driving, one can easily save ten miles a week while running nearby errands and visiting neighborhood friends.
For every ten miles we do not drive, our weekly savings on fuel and car wear and tear will be $5.001.
Our saving in green house gas emissions2 will be 8 lbs of CO2.
How much can I save for a minimal investment?
Example 2
If we take public transportation to work and save 60 miles a week our savings will be about $23.30. This includes public transportation fare3, less the mileage deduction1, less parking4.
Our savings in greenhouse gas emissions2 will be 48 lbs of CO2 each week.
Example 3
If we ride share to work with just one other person and split the costs of a 36 mile commute5 we will save $86.00 per week.
Over a year our savings in gasoline and wear and tear will be nearly $4,500.00, less car insurance costs that we would have to pay anyway.
Our weekly greenhouse gas emissions savings will be 72 lbs of CO2.
Over a year’s time that adds up to a reduction of 3,600 lbs of CO2.
How much can I save if I make a significant investment?
Example 4
If we bought a $300.00 bicycle and extended our weekly errands from 10 to 30 miles we would save $15.00 a week1 and pay for our bike in five months.
Our weekly carbon footprint2 would be reduced by 24 lbs of CO2.
Example 5
If we bought a hybrid car that gets 50 mpg instead of 25 and we ride shared 36 miles a day to and from work, we would save $9,000.00 a year.
Our annual carbon footprint savings would be 7,200 lbs of CO2.
If we paid $24,000 for a Toyota Prius the savings payback would be three years.
What the Future Holds
In the not too distant future a home based solar or wind turbine power source will heat and cool our homes. Stored solar power will be used for recharging our hybrid plug in or battery powered car. This will get us off the electric grid and, except for hidden manufacturing and delivery costs, allow us to drive about leaving zero carbon footprint.
How the savings were calculated
1 Based on U.S. Government’s 50.5 cents per mile tax deduction allowance for cars used for business purposes.
2 The carbon footprint is based on 20 pounds of CO2 per gallon of gas from the gas tank to the wheels. It does not include the CO2 released from the well head to the tank – another 4.5 pounds.
3 Based on a round trip public transit fare of $3.40 per day.
4 Based on weekly parking fees of $10.00.
5 Based on daily round trip commutes of 36 miles.