Alternative forms of transport

Kristin Percy, Auckland

“Setting off home into a winter sunset I get my second dose of sea air for the day. I’ve spent eight hours in a city office looking forward to commuting. My stand up paddle board has been safely resting on a jetty in the viaduct harbour; I walk down there in my surf booties, tights and hi vis gear, attach my dry bag to the board and launch it.

Commuting this way is never routine. To be considered: tide, wind, ferries, dawn and twilight, yacht races and fishing lines at the seaward end of the tank farm. But every worry dissipates as I venture out into the washy water outside the viaduct basin entrance. It can be a physical challenge, or a serene half hour to Westhaven. I confess to a smug feeling as I approach the clogged traffic above me on the harbour bridge. The logistics: storing my board securely at departure and arrival, cycling down to the launch point, keeping wallet and phone dry... are all outweighed by the joy of time on the beautiful Waitemata.”

Jordan Read, Wellington

“I am a student and have become increasingly environmentally aware, so I have ditched my car and now walk everywhere. If I have a time constraint then I catch a bus or a train, and also have my bike to use. Car-pooling, public transport, walking and biking are so easy.”

Mike Howie, Auckland

“Walking has always been my favoured mode of transport. Short car trips just felt wrong for my body, spirit and planet. However, several months ago I found myself taking infinitely more short trips in my auto in the process of setting up my new business, a wine bistro called Freida Margolis in the wonderful West Lynn Shops.

I was getting a bit depressed with it all. Then one day a guy who sells electric bikes walked into Freidas and loaned me his Pedego Electric Assist Bike for a weekend. The word to describe my first ride: giddy.

‘Electric assist’ means you peddle if you want, but there’s a motor to back you up. It whizzes along at an average speed of 25km/h and taking on Auckland’s hills is no-sweat activity. I have been sniffed at by MAMILs (middle-aged men in lyrca) but they are missing the point. This isn’t a hobby – my electric assist bike is my preferred mode of transport.”

Claire Hodge, Dunedin

“Kia ora! I choose not to drive around for sustainable, economic and health reasons. Cycling is a great way of promoting sustainable transport and it is my preferred mode.

For some people, active transport is just not a realistic option but there are other sustainable modes of transport. Car-pooling and public transport are the two biggies which come to mind. If there is a friend driving to the same place or in the same direction as you, you may as well share the drive – this gets one more car off the road and you can share petrol costs! Same goes for public transport.”

Take the next Green Ideas small step

Meatless Monday is a US-based movement that encourages people to replace one meat meal a week with a vegetarian option – and Green Ideas thinks it’s a great way to help the environment. The United Nations says that global meat production generates almost a fifth of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions – that’s more than all the cars and aeroplanes in the world combined!

The main culprits here are the powerful greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide which are created by animal digestion – ie. cow farts – and in the case of nitrous oxide, by applying chemical fertiliser to soil.

But it’s also a question of efficiency and waste – you need much less water and space to grow plants for food than you need to raise animals. Think about the amount of land used to grow feed to fatten animals that could be used for feeding people!

So with the simple act of starting the week with a meatless meal, you can join a movement that’s making a real difference to the health of the planet.

Plus vegetarian meals can be delicious and healthy! For those who decide to take a Small Step with an ongoing commitment to Meatless Monday, we’ll be including a section of meat-free recipes following the Small Steps page in future issues.

PS. Don’t forget to tell us about it (and share your recipes) by emailing [email protected] – we’ll print a selection of your letters in the next issue of Green Ideas.