Читать книгу The Going Green Handbook - Alice Mary Alvrez - Страница 17

Do you take your own car everywhere you go, loving the comfort and convenience of having your own vehicle? Well, today you should examine your transport habits and see if some changes can be made.

The greenest option is to either walk or take a bike. Unfortunately, there are lots of reasons and situations why that doesn’t work for everyone. Your next choice is to go for public transportation. While bigger cities often have subways, trains or light rail options, the more common option is going to be the bus.

I’ll admit that there is some controversy about whether or not a bus is actually the more eco-friendly choice (cite). Various studies have shown various things, and it mainly depends on how many people are in the bus. A full bus can represent several dozen cars not being driven, but one that is empty is clearly not helping the planet at all. I’m not simply suggesting you take the bus (or other form of transport) because its greener, I’m suggesting it because it will become greener as more people do it.

So how does one become a bus guru? The first step is to get a route map and learn how the system works. Some places have a flat-fare and some base the charge on the distance you’re riding. Do your buses accept coins or must you carry tickets or a pass? What do the color-coded routes mean? Know the details and you’re off to a good start. Carry a map with you until you get familiar with your local routes. Allow extra time in case you miss a connection.

Discouraged by how long it’s going to take you to reach your destination? Remember that you’re not doing the driving, so you can do all sorts of things during that time. Use a mobile device to do online work/play/whatever, read a book, or even knit. Maybe you’ll make some friends on your regular route, and you can sit and chat. Don’t consider it wasted time.

What about the costs? Again, that’s a tricky question. Paying a per-trip fair is going to be the most expensive option, but frequent bus travel gets pretty cheap once you buy a pass. Comparing it to driving is difficult because you still may be making payments on a car whether you drive it or not. Given the cost of gas, it’s definitely cheaper to take the bus providing you’re not paying for a car in the background too.