Driving the TravelSmart Way
No need to sheepishly hide your car keys while walking into the office beside coworkers who are glowing after a morning cycle into work. No, no, don't be embarrassed. We're sure you're using your car as efficiently as possible, ride-sharing to give others a lift along your way, using TransLink's traffic map to check for the latest traffic conditions, dropping the kids off at daycare on your way in, picking up some groceries on your way home and really just making the most of your vehicle. Right...?
Being environmentally aware and sensitive to our impacts on the urban ecosystem doesn't mean having to give up your car
And we're not just talking about commuters. You use your car on the evenings and weekends too, don't you? Well, then those are more opportunities to be TravelSmart. Because being environmentally aware and sensitive to our impacts on the urban ecosystem doesn't mean having to give up your car. That'd be nearly impossible for some of us. But it does mean learning a few tricks so that the driving you do has as little impact on the environment as possible.
Tips to Make Driving More Efficient
- Pick the right car: If you're a multi-car family, then you have the luxury of choosing the most fuel-efficient vehicle for whatever task lies ahead. Pick the car that will give you the best gas mileage for the type of driving you'll be doing, city or highway.
- Combine your errands: Instead of heading out and coming home multiple times - or at least more than is necessary - think about planning your trips so you go out once and get a few tasks done. You'll drive fewer kilometres and use less fuel.
- Make sure you know where you're going: Getting lost is neither fun nor good for the mileage. There's no excuse these days to be without a planned route, either from the Internet or a GPS.
- Avoid rush hour: If possible avoid heading out during rush hour. Stop-and-go traffic guzzles gas and you end up producing a lot more pollution. Take advantage of TransLink's small army of traffic cameras, which will give you a real-time image of how traffic is doing so you can adjust your route accordingly.
- Educate the next generation of drivers: In the UK, driving tests include questions on eco-driving (reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption and accident rates). New drivers are taught tips such as accelerating and braking less aggressively and changing gears sooner for eco-driving. Make sure to teach your kids the same considerations for when they're behind the wheel.
If you feel like you're ready to take the plunge and give up a car, either primary or secondary, then kudos to you! That's a huge commitment to helping the environment. It's definitely a lifestyle change, but one for the better! You'll be more physically active, you'll be more connected with your community, you'll lose weight and you'll save money. You'll also prevent tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere in the first place - track your efforts and numbers with an online carbon footprint calculator and feel proud about the incredible contribution your personal effort is making towards helping the global environment.
For more support, check out the Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) program, AutoObesity. Their solution for a city clogged with too many vehicles is their BEST car diet, which helps families reduce their dependency on their car(s) while increasing their participation in active and sustainable transportation. Now that's smart.
Other Resources:
Do you have other resources, tips or ideas to share about driving TravelSmart? Add a comment below to tell us about your experience, insert a tip or trick, or post a question to start a conversation with other users.