Transit

Introduction

Transit makes up a 16.2% of our global GHGs. Taking the bus, train, or using person-powered modes of transit from walking to biking can all make a big impact not only on climate change, but in our personal health, and the air quality around our communities. A growing number of school districts around the world are now banning parents from driving their kids to school as it causes traffic jams and subsequent smog increases around the school grounds, something which is particularly dangerous for growing brains! New research is even finding that noise pollution from traffic around schools negatively affecting children's cognitive abilities.

Parents might fall prey to the illusion that being inside a vehicle like a car keeps their child safer, but studies have shown surprisingly high levels of tailpipe fumes ending up inside the seating area of cars, especially when stuck in traffic, while pedestrians who have access to fresh air only inhale a fraction of the pollutants being trapped in vehicles during the study.

Exercise and fresh air however have been shown to boost brain's health enough to improve a child's school performance. Kids are forced to sit for long periods at school, and may have limited access to playgrounds or sport opportunities, so walking or rolling to school under their own power can give children a great physical and cognitive advantage, vs what they lose by being strapped into a seat before and after school. 

During the research done to create this page, one parent explained that their child's love of their family's bakfiets probably came from the fact that when children are strapped into a baby seat, with headrests taking up most of their view, they aren't properly stimulated because their view is boring, or even frustrating. By comparison, their child's literal front-row seat in the backfiets gave their child an exciting, first-person experience of their city. The child had learned their community layout (which will help prevent them from getting lost in the future), and has turned their once-boring, family commune into a fully-inclusive adventure every time they go anywhere.

According to the link below, transit accounts for 16.2% of our Emissions, making transport the 4th biggest sector of emissions behind industrial emissions; agriculture, forestry & land use emissions; and emissions from energy use in buildings.

Calls to Action

The levels listed here refer to levels of activism. The levels themselves are just in numerical order, not order of impact. However the suggestions in each list are arranged approximately from greatest impact to least.

Levels 1-2

Helpful Tip: If you aren't used to a certain mode of transit (maybe you having ridden a bike in a few years, or haven't navigated your local metro yet) then avoid letting your first car-free journey be for with your chosen method be for important or time-sensitive trips.


If you choose to bicycle for example: pick some days before your time-sensitive appointment and time yourself traveling to your destination.

If you are planning to travel far, then make sure your bike tires are properly inflated and try a few bike rides of increasing length on your free days before trying to get to the far away destination (perhaps work or school) on time before risking the trip on an actual work or school day.

Take the bus or train to a place near your doctor so you can make sure you'll have enough time to get there when you make your next appointment. 

Precautions like these will reduce your stress, and reduce the chance of running into unexpected problems at the worst time.

Level 3

Level 4

Transit Options 

These are ordered (more or less) from most efficient, cheap, healthy, eco-friendly, and affordable first. The Sweeb system for example is listed much lower than other transport options specifically because it would require a community's commitment to the installation and upkeep (much like a track or buss system). So while it is one of the most energy efficient options, and would be a viable transit mode for people with disabilities, affordability, planning, and implementation have more barriers than pedal power that comes with it's own wheels.

The modes of transport are divided into Active and Passive

Active Transport being transport modes that require a person's effort. This is generally the healthiest, most affordable, and accessible mode of transport.

Passive Transport includes motorbikes and cars, busses, motor or sail boats, trains, planes. We don't have all of these listed yet, but are in the process of gathering info. 

Please feel free to make suggestions!

Active Transport

This type of transportation requires human power. Active transport can include walking (with or without a baby stroller, walking stick, or other devices), bike riding, skate boarding, kayaking, and much more.

Active transport is generally much quieter than passive transport, allowing you to hear your surroundings including nature, instead of creating harmful noise pollution.

Click the Active Transit button to learn more, including devices and opportunities for people with disabilities, young children, and people who may need some assistance for barriers such as hills.

Safe Kids Worldwide® is a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries. 

HealthyChildren.org is the only parenting website backed by 67,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

Bakfiets

Pedicabs, Bicycle Sidecars, & Wheelchair Tandem Bikes

These are great options for a competent cyclist to transport children, elderly people, people with limited mobility, or those who otherwise might not be able to enjoy cycling.

bennyelee - DIY pedicab

Rinnovative Co. Channel - Bicycle Sidecar

Werner Frank - DUET Wheelchair Bicycle Tandem

Hybrid Transit

Shweeb the Human-Powered Monorail


Shweeb

4:07 minute video featuring the designer and images of how future shweeb infrastructure could change our urban streets.

Passive Transit

The following are listed approximately from most efficient, to least.

Rail

Click the Rail button to learn more about rail transit including some human-powered version.

Bus

Click the Buses button to learn more about the benefits of bus transit, how to improve systems, and check out our Bus Route/Company directory.

Trip Planning Tools

Tips for Transit Planners

Car & Trucks

While this is one of the least environmentally friendly ways to travel, not everyone has the luxury to avoid this method. This cycling guide includes tips for drivers to avoid harming other road users including cyclists and pedestrians. These tips are particularly important since 73% of cycling deaths in Canada are caused by car collisions. Car users don't just make roads more dangerous and polluted for people on the road, they also make them less inviting for the people near roads

By driving carefully, responsibly, and with more vulnerable road users in mind, we can help create safer communities, where people aren't afraid to walk or role to school. When more people use alternate methods, this means less traffic, congestion, and pollution for ALL of us. 

Tips to Reduce Impact

Treehugger, the only modern sustainability site that offers advice, clarity, and inspiration for both the eco-savvy and the green-living novice.

New Orleans 'Monster' expressway highlights national debate over highway removal | Nightline

11:13 minute video talking about how major highways destroy and disconnect communities, dumping toxic pollution on local residents, which raises their risk of illnesses including cancer. The activists talk about the history of their area and show their work engaging budding scientists with pollution-measuring fieldtrips.

Resources

Europe

UK

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Tools & Calculators

North America

USA

Education & Training Opportunities

North America

USA

Organizations

International

Asia

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USA

Maps

North America

USA

Grants & Funding

Asia

North America

USA

Connecticut