Some people say that when you travel, it's not the destination that's important, but the journey. That's also a good way to think about the impact travel has on the environment. Getting from one place to another is one of the biggest—and fastest growing—sources of greenhouse-gas emissions. According to the U.S. EPA, transportation accounted for 29% of America's greenhouse-gas emissions in 2006, and that's just from cars, planes, and boats moving from place to place—it doesn't include the energy or emissions involved in building vehicles or producing their fuel.
Because transportation is such a big problem for the planet, this chapter helps you become a more responsible traveler. You'll get tips to help you leave your car in the garage or trade it in for a more earth-friendly model. This chapter also explores how to reduce the impact of long-distance travel, whether you're on family vacation or a business junket. Knowing you're traveling in an environmentally responsible way will let you sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey.
It used to be the American dream: two cars in every garage and a chicken in every pot. Many people are adapting that dream to the 21st century by making sure the chicken is free-range and having just one car—or none at all. If you want to spend less time in the car or even trade it in for a bike or pair of walking shoes, this section is for you.
Buses, trains, and subways reduce the traffic choking local roads and help you minimize your carbon footprint by cutting back on greenhouse-gas emissions. According to the American Public Transportation Association, U.S. mass transit saves 4.2 billion gallons of fuel and 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year. It also provides 1.7 million jobs.
Public transportation has other benefits, too. It saves you time you'd otherwise spend searching for a parking place. And you'll have time to read a book, do a little people-watching, or even take an on-the-road nap as you commute to work or travel around town. Sounds a lot less stressful than weaving in and out of traffic or leaning on the horn when some idiot cuts you off, doesn't it?
If you're used to getting around by car, switching to mass transit takes some getting used to. If you don't use your area's system all that much, take time to learn its ins and outs. Start by taking the bus or train once or twice a week, for example, and work your way up to daily use. You'll get to know the routes and schedules, and before long traveling by public transit will be second nature to you.
Tip
Want to know how much you can reduce your carbon footprint by taking the bus, train, or subway? Go to www.publictransportation.org, hover your cursor over Interact, and then click Carbon (CO2) Calculator. On the page that opens, type in your car's gas mileage, how many miles you drive per week, and how many of those miles you could travel by mass transit. Then click Calculate to find out how much you could reduce CO2 emissions.
Here are some ways to get the most out of public transportation:
Buy a weekly or monthly pass. These passes offer better deals than if you pay for each trip individually. (And the more you use it, the better value it is.)
Memorize schedules. Learning when to expect the bus or train you take to work or school saves you from waiting around. Knowing when the next one is due lets you time things so you'll be there right on time to catch it.
Study routes. Check out you local transit authority's website to find the most direct routes to where you need to go. That way you won't have to make many transfers and you'll spend less time traveling.
Keep busy. Taking mass transit frees up lots of time you'd otherwise spend staring at the road. So take advantage of it: Read or listen to a good book, get some work done, or get caught up with the news. You'll be at your destination in no time.
Be considerate. Public transportation is for everyone, and polite passengers make for a much smoother ride. Nobody likes to sit next to someone who's screaming into a cellphone or tucking into a liverwurst-and-onion sandwich. Don't be that person.
Green Tech: Calling All (Pod)cars!
A new kind of vehicle is gaining attention as a way to take the "mass" out of "mass transit." Podcars, also called personal rapid transit (PRT), are small electric cars (usually four-seaters) that run on electric rails built above roadways, like the kind monorails use. Similar to taxis, podcars come when you call them and take you to your destination without stopping in between, so there's no waiting as others exit and enter the car.
When you get to a podcar station, there may already be a car waiting for you. If not, all you have to do is push a button to summon one, which arrives within a couple of minutes. After you've boarded, you simply tell the podcar where you're going and swipe a card to pay your fare. The doors close, and you're off on an express trip.
Podcars are controlled by computer, so there's no risk of the kinds of human errors that lead to collisions. Because there are no drivers, podcars are also economical to run. (One model has solar cells above the tracks to power the cars.)
Prototype PRT systems are currently being built at Heathrow Airport in London, in Uppsala, Sweden, and in Masdar, Abu Dhabi. To learn more about them, visit www.personalrapidtransit.com.
Tip
Here's another way to reduce the amount of time you spend driving: telecommute. Maybe you can work from home a couple days a week instead of going into the office. To help you out, Telecommuting has strategies for convincing your boss that telecommuting is a great idea.
People are designed to get around by walking. And when you take a hike instead of taking the car, you leave behind actual footprints instead of a carbon one. Doctors recommend getting 30–60 minutes of exercise each day; a three-mile walk at an easy pace takes about an hour. So when you have errands to do that are only a couple of miles away, lace up those shoes and get moving.
For the best walk, keep these points in mind:
Wear the right shoes. Good walking shoes are definitely not one size fits all. Spend some time finding ones that are comfortable, flexible, and offer good support.
Walk safe. Stay on the sidewalk or, if there isn't one, walk facing traffic (so you can see cars coming). Wear bright colors so drivers can see you and, if you're out at night, wear a reflective vest. Pay attention to your surroundings; be aware of cars, cyclists, and other pedestrians. If you listen to music as you walk, don't crank up the volume—you want to be able to hear approaching cars.
Stay hydrated. To make sure you get enough water, carry your own supply in a water bottle. Get a reusable metal one and avoid BHP-laden plastic (see Feeding Your Baby).
Carry a cellphone. This isn't for chatting all along your route (which distracts you from your surroundings) but to have on hand in case of emergency.
Buddy up. A walking partner makes walks safer and more fun. People who walk together are more likely to walk regularly, too. Find another parent to walk with you as you accompany the kids home from school, for example, or set up a weekly date to run—er, walk—regular errands.
Tip
If you're headed too far from home for walking, a little planning can still help you get some exercise and spend less time driving. Group errands so you can park in a central spot and then walk to all the places you need to go. Or run errands on your lunch hour or after work, so you can walk from your office.
If the weather is good and you've got somewhere to go, ditch your car and go by bicycle instead. You'll get some exercise, save gas, and spare the air. You don't even have to be in great shape—start with a mile on level ground, and before long you'll be working your way up to longer distances and more challenging terrain. Many bike commuters find it so much more invigorating and inexpensive than driving that they regularly hop on their bikes to run errands and get to and from work.
The biking movement is on a roll (pun intended). If you want to cycle to and from work, you're in good company. Check out these websites full of tips from like-minded people:
Bike Commuters (www.bikecommuters.com).
Commute by Bike (http://commutebybike.com).
Bicycling Life's Bicycle Commuter's Guide (http://tinyurl.com/lt2pa2).
Tip
Save yourself some typing by going to www.missingmanuals.com and finding the Missing CD page for this book, where there's a clickable list of all the links listed here.
League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org).
Tip
If you're lucky, there's a shower facility and lockers at your office (maybe in an in-house fitness center). If so, after you bike to work, take a quick rinse before heading to your desk—your coworkers will thank you. Keep toiletries and a week's worth of clean work clothes in your locker so you won't worry about forgetting anything. But even if you don't have a shower at work, you can still commute by bike. Many cyclists use baby wipes to freshen up once they arrive at work—just be sure to use green ones (Keeping Baby Clean and Protected).
If you're relatively new to two-wheeled travel, here are some ways to make the most of it:
Buy the best bike you can afford. When shopping for a bike, get one that's lightweight, sturdy, comfortable (you won't ride it much if it's not), and suited to your local terrain (flat or hilly, for example). If you'll be riding off-road trails, you'll need different features than if you plan on just pedaling around town. Do your homework before you visit a bike shop so you'll know what you want. Here are a couple of good research sites:
Consumer Reports Bikes Buying Guide (http://tinyurl.com/ok38b2).
Bicycle Buying Guide (http://tinyurl.com/nh2f4s).
The Bicycle Shopping Guide (http://bikes.jump-gate.com).
Get a helmet that fits. A good helmet is a must for frequent riders, and a proper fit makes sure it does its job. When you're trying on helmets, get advice from a the salesperson and keep these tips in mind:
When the helmet is level on your head, it should feel snug but not too tight. (Don't wear it tilted back.)
Fasten the chin strap, and then try to move the helmet backward and forward. If you can push it far enough back to expose your forehead or far enough forward to dip down over your eyes, shorten the straps until the helmet stays put.
If you've adjusted the front and back straps but the helmet still moves around too much, try a different model.
Outfit yourself with the right clothes. To stay comfortable and protect yourself from the weather, choose cycling clothes appropriate to your climate. The staff at your local bike shop will have suggestions about what you should wear.
Learn basic maintenance. Do you know how to tune up a bike, patch a flat tire, or fix a slipped chain? Find out how to take care of and fix your bike before you get stranded by the side of the road miles from home.
Tip
The League of American Bicyclists has a good primer on bike upkeep: Go to http://tinyurl.com/5pf2d6.
Learn to ride effectively. Just because you zoomed around the neighborhood on a BMX or banana bike when you were a kid doesn't mean you know everything about cycling. Most riders, for example, don't really know how to use gears. Consider taking some lessons with a local bike club, or check out About.com's articles on riding basics at http://bicycling.about.com (click the left-hand menu's Bike Riding Basics link).
Obey the rules of the road. You've probably seen cyclists riding the wrong way down one-way streets or running red lights. But in most places, bikers are subject to the same traffic laws as cars. Know the cycling laws in your area, and follow them. The American League of Cyclists lists current laws by state: At www.bikeleague.org, hover your cursor over the words "Take Action", and then click Legal Program/Bike Laws; on the page that opens, click your state. The group also has list of safe biking tips at http://tinyurl.com/d2oxfb.
Note
In Canada, bicycle laws vary by province (some require helmets and others don't), but cyclists everywhere have to obey the same traffic laws as motorists. To check U.K. cycling laws, go to http://tinyurl.com/3x2tfq. The Australian site Wheels of Justice lists links to Australian cycling laws here: www.woj.com.au/australian-road-authority-links.
Ride defensively. Cyclists share the roads with drivers, pedestrians, and other bikes. That means you're likely to encounter drivers who are impatient, rude, or downright dangerous, as well as a host of other hazards. Safety comes from having the right equipment, obeying traffic laws, and knowing how to deal with dodgy situations. For a good guide on safe cycling, go to http://bicyclesafe.com.
Choose the best route. Planning your route will make getting around by bike faster, easier, and more fun. These websites can help:
Map My Ride (www.mapmyride.com) is a social network for cyclists where you can find recommended bike trips and meet other cycling enthusiasts.
Bikely (www.bikely.com) is an international site where bikers share their knowledge of good routes. Search for a location, and then look for rides in the category you want, like scenic, commute, off-road, and so on.
Tip
If you plan on riding after dark, make sure motorists can see you. Your bike should have reflectors, a headlight, and a blinking taillight. You can also equip your helmet with lights and wear a reflective vest for extra visibility. You can get all these items at your local bike shop or sporting goods store.