How to Commute on Earth Day

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Last Updated: May 4, 2023 References

Earth Day is a celebration of nature, and its purpose is to help people commit to greener living. If you want to make your commute greener on Earth Day, try biking or taking public transportation. As an added bonus, many cities offer free public transportation on Earth Day! You can also carpool with others, or if you need to take your car, make sure it's as efficient as possible for your commute!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing a Greener Commute

1
Put your walking shoes on to get to work. If your work is within walking distance, this is a very green option! Just make sure you start out early enough so that you get to work on time. You won't be able to use traffic as an excuse for being late.
- If you don't want to wear your nice work clothes while walking, consider bringing clothes and shoes you can change into when you get to work. If you're worried about sweating through your clothes, wear something light.
- If you don't want to walk the whole way, try walking to a bus stop or metro station.
2
Ride your bike if it's a bit too far for walking. Biking can cut down on your leg work if walking doesn't seem feasible. If you don't have a bike, check to see if your city has a bike-sharing program. You may be able to borrow one for a small fee.^{[1]
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- When biking to work, make sure you know the rules to stay safe while riding in traffic. In addition, make sure you aren't wearing loose clothing that could catch in the bike and opt for flat-footed shoes with good traction. If you need to, carry a backpack with clothes to change into when you get to work.
- You could also use a powered scooter or Segway; you may be able to rent these around town as well.
3
Hop on the subway for an easy-to-schedule, fast route. If you're lucky enough to have a metro system in your city, try taking that to work for Earth Day. Check where your local stations are and what route you'll need to take online, then walk or drive over to the station. You may like it so much that you decide to take it at other times of the year, too!^{[2]
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- Many cities also have apps to help you plan your route.
- Most subways also connect to the city's bus systems if the metro doesn't cover your whole route.
4
Take the bus if your city doesn't have a metro system. Bus systems tend to take a bit longer, but you'll still get to work! Check your local system to see what stops are nearby and what route you can take to work. You may need to change buses at some point, but don't worry, one bus change is usually included in your fare. Hold on to your ticket to show the next bus driver!
- Often, you'll need exact change to ride the bus, so look the fare up online.
- If you plan to ride more often, consider getting a month-by-month bus pass.
5
Ask if you can telecommute for a day. The greenest commute is not to commute at all! Some employers may be amenable to the idea of you working from home for a day. Check with your boss a couple of weeks out to see if this is an option for you.^{[3]
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- You could also suggest a compressed work week, where you work more on other days of the week and then don't come in on Earth Day.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Carpooling with Others

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Talk to your coworkers about riding together. Ask around to see if any of your coworkers live near your home. Then, see if they'll share a ride with you. Most people are willing to share as long as you're a little flexible!
- You could even put out an email to see if you can connect other people for carpooling.
2
Check with your neighbors to see if they have similar routes. You already know your neighbors live close by so it makes sense to see if they work in the same part of town. Ask around, and you may find someone to share a ride with on Earth Day!
- As a bonus, you may be able to share a ride with them more often once you both realize you have the same route.
- You could also check into community events. Some cities offer local carpooling events where you can meet other people who may have your same route.
3
Use a carpool matching service to find people to ride with. You don't have to ride to work with coworkers. You can find people who have similar commutes and share rides with them. Some cities have their own commuter websites, but you can also find general websites to hook up with people who have similar routes.
- Try services like Waze, Rideshare, and RideFinders.
- Check with the service to see if the offer emergency ride homes. If something happens with your carpool, many will provide you with a ride home in another form.^{[4]
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4
Opt for a ride-share company that will let you include other riders. Ride-sharing companies like Lyft and Uber will pick you up like a taxi would. However, they'll also connect you to other riders on your route if you choose the shared rides option. It will only take a few minutes out of your way to include other people in your commute, and you don't have to do any of the legwork to find people to share with.^{[5]
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- Just choose the "Shared" rides option on Lyft or the "UberPool" option on Uber.
- This option will also save you money, but it can increase your commute time. Plan ahead!
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Your Car and Commute More Efficient

1
Take the junk out of your car. Believe it or not, those water bottles you have rolling around in the back and the junk you have in the trunk of your car can add up, lowering your fuel efficiency. For every extra 100 pounds (45 kg) you carry, your car's efficiency goes down 2%.^{[6]
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- Put that stuff in your home or recycle it!
2
Inflate your tires for better fuel efficiency. Look in your car's manual to see the proper pressure for your tires. Then use a tire gauge to check your pressure. If they don't have enough air, add more until you reach the correct pressure.^{[7]
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- Many tire companies will check your air pressure for free. You should really check it at least twice a year, when the weather turns cold in the fall and when it turns hot in late spring.
- To check the pressure, take the cap off the nozzle on the tire. Place the tire gauge over the gap. It will pop the end out, which looks kind of like a ruler. The number next to the end of the metal tube is your tire pressure.
- You can add air at most gas stations.
3
Slow down your speed to increase efficiency. The faster you go, the more fuel you burn. You may want to speed a little if you're late to work, but slowing down is much better for the environment.^{[8]
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- Keep in mind, most highways have minimum speeds, so don't go below that.
- Using cruise control also helps, as the car will adjust more efficiently than you will.
4
Shift your commuting time to avoid traffic. The more you sit in traffic, the more fuel you burn. Try leaving 30 minutes to an hour earlier to see if that helps with traffic. You may find you avoid most of it and make your commute more efficient. You'll get to work early, but that means you can get a head start!^{[9]
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- Some bosses will let you shift your commute permanently. For instance, they may let you work 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. instead of 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Talk to them to see if this is a possibility for you.
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Why is Earth Day celebrated?

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Earth Day is celebrated because it reminds us to care for our planet by trying to clean up our water and air. It helps us to be more environmentally conscious.

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A green commute may include a number of these options. For example, you may be able to bike to the subway, take your bike on public transportation, and bike to work when you get off. Check to see if your bus or subway allows bikes during commuting hours.

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Light, collapsible bikes are now available for people who want to commute with their bike on public transportation. They can also be easily stored at the office.

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