In this month’s Relocalize, Post Carbon Institute is taking a peek at transportation—specifically, as Asher Miller writes, looking at new and old ways to use or replace the good ol’ automobile. Transportation is a major focus for planners in cities and municipalities, and while increasing gas prices are being felt across the board, they are much more evident at the pump. Nationwide spending on gas in the US has increased by 26% to 5.2% on average. How can one curb spending on gas and all the related costs of car ownership while still getting around? Here are some examples of community activities that help us make the transition towards reducing and replacing the ol' automobile.

Organize a “Walking School Bus” so that elementary school children can get to school in a safe, healthy and fossil-fuel-free manner. Walking School Buses are programs that allow children to walk to school in a supervised group along a predetermined route, picking up and dropping off students at assigned stops. The program is an alternative to parents driving their children to school, encouraging both parents and children to walk, and making the area around the school safer for pedestrians. Parents feel confident that their children are safe while walking to school. And kids can socialize, stay fit, and learn the importance of people-powered transportation at an early age.

Carpooling is an easy alternative to reducing your car expenses and emissions while still having the convenience of car travel. Sharing a ride with other people who live or work near you saves money and time and reduces your overall footprint. Carpooling arrangements vary in formality and regularity, and have existed in a more structured form since the 1970s. There are several rideshare agencies that take the hassle out of making arrangements with other carpoolers. Some countries have introduced high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes, and special passenger pick-up zones to encourage carpooling.

In a car-sharing cooperative, members own a number of cars collectively instead of each owning a vehicle separately. Car-sharing allows members to forego the large personal expense of owning and maintaining a private car, while enjoying access to a car when needed. Car co-ops have long been popular in some Western European countries, and have started to catch on in the U.S. and Canada in recent years. They can vary in size from a few friends sharing a car to tens of thousands of members sharing a large fleet of vehicles.

Finally, here's an example to inspire:

"At the heart of the Otesha Project you'll find a two-wheeled revolution that's taking place in Canada, Australia, the Philippines and the UK."

The Otesha Project started in Canada in 2003, with the goal of mobilizing youth to create local and global change through education programs and bicycle tours that use theatre, multi-media, and storytelling to engage a wide range of audiences. All over the place, people are hopping on their bikes and traveling across their countries, stopping at schools, festivals and communities along the way to give inspiring, thought-provoking presentations about the impacts of our everyday actions. Over the past 5 years, about 400 people have participated in Otesha Canada cycle tours and over 72,000 more have been part of an Otesha presentation. Visit Otesha on the web in Canada and UK.

Photo credit: gak

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Links:

1. Relocalization Network Walking School Bus Project Guide [PDF]
2. Relocalization Network Start a CarShare Guide [PDF]
3. Starting a Walking School Bus - www.walkingschoolbus.org
4. Active and Safe Routes to School, Green Communities Canada - www.saferoutestoschool.ca
5. “Traffic Tamers” and “Red Sneaker Routes” - www.lesstraffic.com/Programs/WB/WB.ht

Vancouver organizations:

1. Vancouver Co-operative Auto Network (CAN) www.cooperativeauto.net
2. Zip Car www.zipcar.ca
3. Translink Commuting Options www.translink.bc.ca/commuting_options
4. Jack Bell Ride Share Carpooling www.ride-share.com
5. Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition Resources www.vacc.bc.ca/other_cycling_resources

Further reading:

1. My Other Car is a Bright Green City - Alex Steffen, January 23, 2008
2. The Road to Recovery: Sustainable Transportation - The New Planner (American Planning Association)
3. That First Push: North America's Bike to Work Programs - Talia Fanning, Momentum Planet No. 33 [PDF]
4. Momentum Planet Magazine (Canada)