4. Drive Less

The less we drive the better—for our health, for our happiness, for our wallets, for our planet. Driving contributes to global warming and the depletion of our natural resources, not to mention pollution. In addition to poor education and fast food, America’s addiction to the automobile has lead to a nationwide obesity epidemic.

The public transportation statistics are pretty shocking, but also encouraging.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (via Grist), 88.1% of all workers in the USA reported that they used the automobile to get to work, and 79.4% of works drove alone in their cars.

According to Treehugger.com 40 percent of US reliance on foreign oil would decrease if one in ten Americans used public transportation daily.

If one in five Americans used public transportation daily, the carbon monoxide emissions saved would be greater than the combined emissions from all chemical manufacturing and metal processing industries.

Driving a car is also costly. According the United States Automobile Association, the average car costs at least $9,000 per year to own, maintain, and use. For a 2-car family that’s $18,000 per year.

Posted on October 21st, 2007 by Olivia Zaleski