Living Green Living Well

Responsible Vehicle Use

Even though we know it's usually better to walk, ride our bikes, take the bus, or use some other form of green(er) transportation, the fact is that it's not always possible. Everyone will have a different definition of "possible," because everyone's situation is unique. Driving alone in a car to any location at any distance adds to greenhouse gas emissions. And it also contributes indirectly to urban sprawl and loss of wildlife habitat, and more directly to decreased physical activity and pollution.

But despite this and for all our good intentions, cars and driving are a part of our reality. Sometimes, because of the way our communities are structured and the way our busy lives are arranged, it is difficult to avoid driving. LGLW hopes that knowing more about the different driving options and ways to make tranportation choices more "green" will help you to make more informed decisions and consider alternative travel habits.

Park and Ride

If you are a city-dweller, it may be possible to drive part-way to your destination, and then catch a bus for the balance of the trip. Winnipeg Transit has a Park and Ride program, with 12 designated lots around the city.

Drive and Maintain for Efficiency

Resource Conservation Manitoba in partnership with the Manitoba EcoNetwork have launched a new program which teaches the tips and techniques that save fuel, and reduce emissions for the driving you need to do. The difference between the most fuel efficient and least efficient drivers is in the range of 35%! Browse through the website www.ecodrivermanitoba.ca to learn more.

Deciding When - and What - to Drive

Assess your situation. Everyone is unique and folks who drive do so for different reasons. Why do you drive?
Keep a log of the date, time and reason for driving. Do this for one-two weeks. In one study of car usage, 40% of trips were for distances under 2 km. Consider ways you could have left your car at home, and occasions when that wasn't feasible for you. You might learn a little more about your habits and reveal some surprising things!
Check out Green Commuting for the Individual for tips and reources!
Remember that convenience can take many forms. Sometimes it actually isn't faster or easier to drive.
What about biofuels and hybrids? While alternative vehicles are exciting options for people looking to cut their emissions, these choices still require significant inputs and cause outputs that are problematic to the environment. Living Green, Living Well reccommends a shift in the way we transport ourselves, with a view to finding alternatives to the single-occupancy vehicle (SOV). For times when driving is unavoidable, hybrids and biofuel vehicles can come in handy, but switching over won't solve the problem.
Consider the impacts of ethanol and biofuels to the earth. Where does the fuel come from? What crops could be grown instead of fuel? What are the implications of growing food for fuel?
Try a carpool! Driving to work one day per week less cuts your emissions and traffic congestion contribution by 20%!
Carsharing is a great way to have access to a vehicle where necessary, while still cutting usage significantly.
Consider insuring a vehicle for part of the year. if there are times when you know a vehicle is important to you but times where it's not crucial, insuring your vehicle part-time can encourage new forms of transportation and
Get to know your neighbourhood. Relying on local amenities will help you to reduce the distance you need to travel, and it helps to create a stronger sense of community!
Choose schools, workplaces, places of worship and activities that are easily reached within walking or cycling distances. Consider living close to where you spend the bulk of your time.
Increasingly, people are choosing to live near to where they work, study and play.
When driving, find out the speed at which your vehicle is most efficient. Stay at or below this speed (where compatible with safety and legal requirements) to maximize your vehicles fuel effiiciency.
Check out the link to Vehicle Maintenance to learn more about fuel efficiency and your vehicle.

Further Ideas

When you add up all the costs, it's cheaper to ride a bike, walk and take transit!

Personal physical activity is a great bonus from active tranportation. You don't need to spend money on car insurance and a gym pass!

Walking to the corner store gives you opportunities to chat with your neighbours, have a moment alone, and get to know your community better.

Human-powered transportation is personally empowering and lets you have more control over your travel. You get to know and appreciate what your commute feels like.

Relating to the weather through active transportation puts you in touch with what being outside feels like - and it's fun!

Carpooling and transit allow you opportunities to make friends and share commuting experiences with others.

Bike couriers, human-powered taxis, and boat rides add to the variety and richness of our communities.

Critically thinking about car culture helps us get some perspective on our cities, streets and travel choices. It encourages us to ask how we can make communities more people friendly.

It is ironic to many that the reputed "independence" of car ownership and use actually ties people more tightly to the vagaries of the global petroleum industry. How much of your disposable household income are you willing to hand over to Big Oil?