12 Things YOU Can Do to Reduce Global Warming Pollution from Transportation

(Text developed by Transportation Choices and Climate Solutions)

1. Drive less: live closer to work, live on a bus line, walk or cycle on trips under a mile. Chain together trips to minimize cold engine starts.



2. Bike: Check out the Bicycle Alliance and Cascade Bicycle Club for routes, trails and safety tips. Get bike maps on the City of Seattle website.



3. Walk: Visit Feet First for ideas on great routes.



4. Bus: Use the Metro Trip Planner tool to find bus routes and schedules, or call 206-553-3000.



5. Telecommute: Work at home one or two days a week or consider "flex-time" — working four 10-hour days and taking the fifth day off — to lessen the number of cars on the road.



6. Rail: Choose rail for your next trip or vacation:
   • Take the Monorail from Westlake Center to Seattle Center. It runs every 2 minutes.
   
   
   • Ride Sound Transit.
   
   
   
   • Take Amtrak to Portland, Olympia, Bellingham or Vancouver BC.
   
   
7. Rideshare to work, school or an event. Visit Metro Online to help plan your trip. (You can also dial "511" on this line to get transportation information for train, bus, ferry, etc.)
   
   
8. Save $5,000 a year by giving up one car. Check out Flexcar and the City of Seattle's One Less Car Challenge.



9. Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle. Visit the Greener Cars website for more information.
   
   
10. Use biodiesel if you have a diesel car. To find out more go to Imagine Energy and Fuelwerks.



11. Purchase "offsets" when you take a flight or a roadtrip. The Climate Trust "Carbon Counter" takes just minutes to use, and your contribution helps fund projects that reduce global warming pollution like the Portland Employee Commute Option, which gives people incentives to drive less. Book your flight with Better World Travel, and they will include the offsets in the transaction.



12. Get engaged with local groups like Transportation Choices Coalition and Climate Solutions to be apprised of timely policy issues that affect your quality of life:
    
    
    • Transportation Choices Coalition email Action Alerts let you know when to weigh in so your voice is heard in support of policies that give you back your time and health by giving you better transportation choices. To sign up for Alerts enter your email address to the upper right of this page under "Join our alert list."
    
    
    
    • Connect with Climate Solutions to stay apprised of national transportation policy and specific climate protection issues like the Federal Transportation bill. Sign up for alerts on their website.

Most importantly, don't forget to tell your family, friends and associates that transportation is the number one cause of greenhouse gases and air pollution in Washington State and urge them to get involved for a healthier community!

Contact Melissa Briody at Transportation Choices Coalition if you'd like a paper or electronic copy of "12 Top Things YOU Can Do to Reduce Global Warming Pollution from Transportation."