Transportation Options

In the busy lives we lead today it seems the choice option for transportation is the car. Wait, did I say the car, funny that, we all seem so concerned about the environment. There are a variety of options we could do to change how we impact the use of our car. While getting rid of your car all together is the most direct solution, it is not practical and nor will it be viable for the general public to accept. Instead of worrying about changing habits in an abrupt manner, it is time to realize that most people will take convenience over the cost of gas. What does this mean? It means that to change the habits, instead of regulating and forcing issues on people we should try to find solutions that ease people into alternatives - people resist change, especially when it is forced upon them.

Let's look at some of the controls that have been implemented globally, along with viable solutions that reduce traffic, gas consumption and pollutants.

• car bans on work days
• flexible work options
• auto share
• walking/bike routes,
• strong public transport
• local work
• flexible work arrangements
• better urban planning
• ride sharing
• Increase car performance
• Better quality gas
  

In Mexico city they only allow drivers to use cars on certain days. Car pooling was introduced in the seventies unsuccessfully due to the logistics of our working times. Flexible working arrangements is a proven method but needs to be fully supported by industry and society. Car share and auto share to reduce the second (or three or four) car family is a viable and convenient solution. Strong bike and walking routes introduced throughout cities help ease traffic. Affordable and frequent public transportation can also eliminate the need for driving. Recently the 100 mile diet has been introduced and is a bestseller - if we live and work locally, the need for a car is greatly diminished. When travelling long distance try ride sharing. Better transportation routes with well planned streets and signs allowing traffic to move and lessen idle time and overall driving time, thus cleaning the air by less driving hours. Increasing the quality of the car engines and driving performance. Increasing the gas octane levels has an impact on the driving quality and amount of gas consumed, along with a cleaner burn.

While some of these ideas are still a band aid, the overall impact on a large scale is dramatic and allows us to slowly changes our ideas and ideals on the way we live and think.