As I was walking home recently, I had an interesting conversation with an employee from a nearby mechanics shop. I was waiting at the corner for the light to change, and there happened to be a chain mechanics shop on that same corner. One of their employees was standing on the corner waving an oil change sign in order to drum up business. As we were standing next to each other, we watched several bicyclists and pedestrians cross the street in the opposite direction. He turned to me and noted with surprise and a little confusion how many people were biking and walking lately. The large number of bikers and walkers wasn’t a surprise to me, but I can see how it might be for someone who spends their days dealing with car drivers.
A decreased dependence on cars has many benefits, ranging from health benefits of increased activity to the financial savings associated with less frequent gas purchases, car repairs, etc. Of course, the biggest benefit is to the environment. Cars require a great deal of plastic, metal, glass, and other components to manufacture, and gasoline or diesel vehicles emit a great deal of greenhouse gas. Taking cars off the road or making them last longer is a good way to help the environment.
There are many alternatives to owning and driving a car. Biking and walking, which were mentioned above, are two of the most obvious ones. In Minnesota, some people only bike or walk in the summer, but it is certainly possible to do so year-round. I walk every single day, regardless of the weather. If you are going to bike or walk year-round, make sure you have weather-appropriate attire to keep yourself safe in any season.
If you are commuting a distance that isn’t feasible for biking or walking, consider public transportation. In the Twin Cities Metro area, the recent addition of the Green Line has made carless commuting easier for many people. It’s also important to stay up-to-date on bus and light rail lines, as route changes are frequent. When I first moved to my neighborhood a few years ago, there was exactly one bus route, and it didn’t take me anywhere I needed to go. Now, there is a new route which I find useful, but I would not have known about it if I hadn’t been periodically checking the route changes on the Metro Transit website.
Car sharing is also a good option for people who need to drive, but who do so infrequently. Individuals can purchase subscriptions to car sharing services and then make use of communal cars that are parked near them. Rates and rules for the services vary between companies, and car sharing is not available in all areas. Still, many people find Car2Go, Zipcar, and HOURCAR great alternatives to owning their own car.
Take a look at your own car driving habits. Are there other ways you can get to where you’re going? Do your best to replace car trips with other forms of transportation. It’s a great way to make a difference today.
