We are a nation of cars. Especially in the west, transportation by automobile
has become the mode of choice. It’s more than just transportation; it’s a cultural
phenomenon.
The environmental cost of cars is substantial. While today’s vehicles are 80 to
99 percent cleaner per mile than those built in the 1960s, the number of vehicle
miles traveled nationwide has increased by 159 percent. Most of the increases are
in urban areas, where ozone smog and contaminants have the greatest impacts
on health. In the last 30 years, vehicle miles traveled on urban roads has tripled
from 570 million to 1.73 billion.
Automobiles cause more than just air pollution. More than half of Seattle’s
greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation sources, primarily the cars
and trucks we drive. There is no longer any doubt that climate disruption is a
reality and that human activities, including driving, are responsible for increasing
concentrations of global warming pollution. Roads and parking lots built for cars
also form impermeable surfaces that prevent natural filtration and purification
of stormwater. Oil, gas, anti-freeze and other automotive fluids are washed into
storm drains, eventually fouling our water supplies and wetlands and destroying
habitat for salmon, birds and other creatures.
What can we do? Don’t we all need our cars? Some of us may not, but most of us
can at least signi.cantly reduce our need to drive, either by sharing rides, using
public transportation, considering alternative modes like walking or bicycling, or
simply doing a better job of trip planning.
Seattle has proven that its citizens can make do with less driving, based on
results from the “One Less Car Challenge.” Over the course of the City-sponsored
program, 100 families have given up a car and learned to cope, saving money,
making friends and learning new transportation “survival” skills in the process.
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When it’s time to replace your car, buy a fuel-efficient, low-polluting vehicle |
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| 80. |
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Reduce your vehicle use as much as possible |
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| 81. |
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Prevent leaks, properly inflate your tires and keep your car maintained |
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| 82. |
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When boating, always use pump out stations |
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| 83. |
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Turn your engine off rather than idling |
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| 84. |
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Look for biodiesel or the new ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel available in summer 2006 |
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| 85. |
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Shop locally, explore your neighborhood and get fit |
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| 86. |
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Bike more drive less |
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| 87. |
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Wash your car at commercial car washes that recycle water |
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| 88. |
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Get rid of one car |
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Carpool if you can |
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| 90. |
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Don’t top off your gas tank |
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