Passive Transit
Introduction
Passive transit is transit that moves people without them needing to exert any particular amount of energy. These are great for overnight travel, long-distance travel, and anyone with limited or no mobility.
Types of Passive Transit
The following are listed approximately from most efficient, to least.
Ferry
Ferries which are powered by fossil fuels at to port and harbor emissions, as well as marine noise pollution, which can hurt delicate species such as the glass reefs around BC, Canada.
By switching to electric, communities can reduce emissions, and encourage local wildlife to thrive. After ferry use stopped during the pandemic, dolphins and other wildlife suddenly returned in Hong Kong waters that had long been avoided "“Sometimes there could be a ferry to Macau every seven minutes; it’s a constant flow of traffic. When the ferry stopped in late February, it was amazing how quickly dolphins and porpoises, the other resident marine mammal, started using those ferry lanes they never used to use at all, "
Rail
Some forms of railway travel (depending on model, fuel type, and their routes) are more or less efficient than travel by bus.
Click the Rail button to learn more about rail transit including some human-powered versions.
Check out our Railway Systems page to learn about existing rail options in your area, or that you can use when traveling. It is not a full listing, but we've gathered general info including where to buy tickets as well as station and route maps.
Bus
Some buses (depending on model, fuel type, and their routes) are more or less efficient than railway travel.
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.
Click the School Buses button to learn about school buses, and how to make them even greener.
Investment Strategies
Investing in more buses for disadvantaged areas creates significant value compared to bigger projects like building new freeways which help people travel further away instead of spending money locally. As few as six riders per trip can recoup project costs by providing massive social and income benefits for users thanks to improved employment rates, social inclusion, not to mention access to resources such as education or medical access.
Electric buses cost more up front, but are much cheaper and more efficient to run over time. Repair costs are much lower, as no oil changes are needed, and electric vehicles generally need less maintenance work than fossil-powered vehicles.
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
Car Pool - The more people being taken to a destination, the more efficient the use of energy. This does not mean you should pack extra kids into the car, if someone can take care of them at home, since additional weight makes any vehicle less efficient. You can make plans with your kid's friends, neighbors with kids who go to the same school, even create a rotating system where the adults take turns giving rides throughout the week.
"Stop & Drop" - Park somewhere away from the school, maybe a few streets away, or on the other side of a park, and walk or roll the rest of the way. This reduces congestion and pollution near the school itself, plus you get some benefits from fresh air, exercise, and more intimate time with you child. As kids get older, you can drop off and pick them up at a pre-designated spot, allowing them private time to walk or play with their friends before the drive home.
Clean out the vehicle to reduce excess weight.
Keep wheels properly filled and serviced to improve efficiency.
Type of Energy Matters - Electric or hybrid vehicles will produce the least emissions, plus they are more efficient and cheaper to run. One study found they even cost less in maintenance than ICE vehicles. Diesel causes the worst pollution in terms of small particle pollution, causing significant harm to children's lungs, hearts, and brains. Lead has been removed from petrol/gas, but the fumes are still a serious problem, even for unborn babies.
Flight
Planes and Helicopters create a massive amount of air and noise pollution.
Click the Air Travel button to learn more about the existing and emerging forms of air travel.
Sky Gondolas
Trip Planning Tools
Europe
France
Transit Explorer helps compare train and bus routes with an interactive map. Check routes on different days, estimated travel times, number of stops, and each listing notes which items in the list are faster or cheaper.
Resources
Europe
UK
DeSmog’s Air Pollution Lobbying Database "find out about organisations opposing or seeking to weaken planned air quality measures in the UK’s most polluted cities, including Clean Air Zones and London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone."
Organizations
International
TUMI "supports transport projects all around the world and enables policy makers to transform urban mobility. TUMI is based on three pilars: innovation, knowledge, investment. We support innovative pilot projects around the whole world. We share knowledge with planners about modern mobility concepts, in workshops and conferences. We invest in construction and modernisation of sustainable urban infrastructure."
North America
USA
National Complete Streets Coalition News of complete streets activities from around the country and proposed federal legislation plus resources including fact sheets and a PowerPoint presentation.
Grants & Funding
Asia
Livable Cities: Financing Partnership Facility "The urban operations of ADB benefits from the support of notable trust funds, which are collectively referred to as the Urban Financing Partnership Facility. Under this umbrella, strategic, long-term, multi-partner investments on innovative urban solutions are implemented. These investments help to achieve the vision of livable cities." These include:
Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF) eligible countries include Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam.
North America
USA
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program "provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants."