Living Planet Community tip of the week: Ride your bike

This week’s Living Planet Tip: Take a bike or public transit instead of your car whenever you can. Better yet, ditch your car entirely.
A typical car – a late-model mid-sized sedan – driven for 20,000 kilometres a year emits six tonnes of CO2. Right now, transportation contributes to more than 30 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Short trips are actually the worst for emissions, as well as fuel costs, as a car’s engine has not yet reached its peak operating temperature, especially in the winter.
I will admit – up until last winter, I couldn’t resist the convenience of hopping in the car to get from point A to point B. It was just too easy. The car is warm on cold days and cool on hot days. It can carry all your stuff. It’s right there in the driveway asking to be driven.
But my romance with my 1998 VW Golf ended one sad day last year when a careless lane changer on Highway 401 took its life (thankfully not mine or my passenger’s!) in one foul, signal-less swoop.
Long story short, now I am car free! And I actually love it.
Here’s why.
1. The cost to drive and maintain a car is senseless. If you walk or bike daily, you can save as much as $3,000 a year in gas, vehicle maintenance and parking. You may save even more if you can get by with owning one less vehicle.
2. There is almost always an accessible way to get where you’re going. Most cities have reliable public transit – use it. For longer distances, carpool! I had no idea how many of my friends were driving to the same area I was until I had to ask. Driving with company is more fun than driving alone and the money you pitch in to help with their gas costs is nothing in comparison to the maintenance of your own vehicle.
3. It’s good for you. The health benefits of cycling are too numerous to mention. As well, combining your commute and exercise will help you stay fitter and healthier without cutting into your day.
4. It’s good for the planet. By getting to your destination via your own power just one day a week, you can save 270 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions from your vehicle over a year. Both biking and walking create no emissions, plus they reduce traffic congestion. If more people used their own energy to get around, growing cities would not need to build more roads, saving money and reducing pollution from construction vehicles.

My family ditched our vehicles, hopped on our bikes and supported the Heart and Stroke Foundation at the Becel Ride for Heart in June, 2010.

I will admit, that on rainy or especially chilly days, I sometimes find myself wishing that I could hop behind the wheel but the amount of stress that has been alleviated from my life with regards to car costs, road rage, and traffic terror has far outweighed any negatives.
So far, 15536 People have committed to this action. If you’re taking this action, let us know!
**Disclaimer: I realize that for some people, going entirely car-free just isn’t a feasible option. If this is your situation, what tips do you have to keep your emissions low while being a vehicle owner?