Go There Greener Guide

The US could keep nearly 941 million metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere if we committed to cutting our yearly emissions from transportation in half. The good news is, you can save several pounds of carbon emissions by switching up your ride for even just one day.

The truth is, we need large, systemic changes to policy and production in order to tackle the climate crisis -- and while we advocate for bold climate action, we can also make small changes in our individual lives to make a big impact for the planet collectively. Choose a safer and more sustainable way to travel through DoSomething’s Go There Greener campaign, powered by Chevrolet, and together we can save thousands of pounds of CO2 from reaching the atmosphere. We’re proud to partner with Chevrolet in helping create a safer and more sustainable future for us all -- one with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.

In this guide, you’ll find all the information you need to switch up your commute and stay safe while doing it. Remember that you’ll save nearly a pound of CO2 for every mile you walk, cycle, or carpool compared to taking a solo car ride (unless you’re taking an electric vehicle!).

(When traveling, please follow COVID-19 guidelines from your local health department, including wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance. Additional guidance can be found in the “COVID-19 Precautions” section of this guide.)

Table of Contents:

• Walking
• Cycling
• Carpooling
• Public Transportation
• COVID-19 Precautions

WALKING

1) Find the right route.

If this is your first time walking your commute, you’ll probably need to reevaluate the route you usually take because the best walking route may be different than the best driving route. From a safety perspective, you’ll want to look for things like continuous sidewalks or well-marked crosswalks. For your own comfort, it may also be nice to avoid super steep inclines, or look for areas with lots of street trees to provide shade. Try to stay in familiar areas where you know there’ll be lots of people around.

GREEN TIP: Walking with a friend can help you feel safer and save more carbon dioxide together.

2) Stay aware of your surroundings.

Remember that as a pedestrian, you still have to be aware of what’s happening on the road around you -- and you’re expected to follow the rules of the road when crossing at intersections (that means obeying the traffic signals that tell you when you can and can’t cross). Even if you don’t stray from the sidewalk, you’ll want to be alert for things like vehicles entering and exiting driveways and parking lots.

Now for some tough (but necessary) news: you can’t do those things effectively if you’re on your phone. You wouldn’t text behind the wheel, so why do it while walking around unprotected near other vehicles? Answer those texts and check those notifications before heading out (and if you really need to be on your phone, walk over to somewhere safe to stand still for a bit).

SAFETY TIP: When you can, use the sidewalk. When you can’t, walk facing traffic and as far from the road as possible.

3) Dress and pack appropriately.

The first step to prepping for your walk should be checking out the weather, because the last thing you want is to wind up trudging through the rain or wind or snow unprepared. Make sure to check for the weather at both the start and end of your day to make sure there are no surprises. Then, dress and pack accordingly -- umbrella for the rain, a brimmed hat for the sun, mittens for the cold, etc.

The most crucial part of your outfit will probably be your shoes. No amount of carbon saved will make you feel any less miserable if you’re a mile into a commute with uncomfortable shoes. Make sure they’re comfy, durable, and something you’re not afraid to get a little dirty. If those are different than the shoes you want to wear to school or work or wherever, just pack another pair to change into once you get there.

SAFETY TIP: Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials at night to increase your visibility.

CYCLING

1) Ride defensively.

When you drive defensively, you look out for potential conflicts with others on the road and try to avoid them through your own actions. This is super important as a cyclist because if a crash were to happen with a vehicle, you’re the one that’s most at risk. Basically, you want to act super sus of everyone else on the road at all times and adapt your behavior accordingly.

Start by avoiding high traffic areas and hours and keeping an eye out for hazards in the road like pebbles, potholes, or debris. You also need to stay alert to what other vehicles are doing (turning, stopping, pulling out of driveways, etc).

SAFETY TIP: Stash your cell phone off and away in a bag so that you can really stay focused on the road.

2) Know the rules of the road.

Just cause you’re on a bike doesn’t mean you don’t have to follow the same rules as every other vehicle on the road. That means you’ve got to follow the speed limit, ride with the flow of traffic, and obey street signs, signals, and road markings.

Also try to stay where others would expect a vehicle to be -- not in the median or in between cars. Let them know where you’re planning to be too, by signaling with your hand when turning or calling out “on your left” when passing a pedestrian.

SAFETY TIP: Your safest route will probably be one with a dedicated bike lane or bike path -- don’t be afraid to switch up your route to take advantage of them.

3) Have the right equipment.

We need to make this clear: your bike ride cannot start until you have your helmet on (think of it like your seat belt in the car). Make sure that both your helmet and your bike are the right size for you. A bike that’s too big is harder to control!

It also wouldn’t hurt to equip yourself with gear to make yourself more visible, like reflectors for your bike or clothing and rear and front lights. Grab a bag or backpack to carry all your stuff cause you’ll want to avoid holding onto loose items or risking a slip from your pockets.

SAFETY TIP: Avoid long and loose clothing, and tuck and tie your shoelaces so you don’t get snagged in your bike chain.

CARPOOLING

1) Find someone to carpool with.

When looking for a carpool buddy, it’s easiest to start with the folks you know at a place you visit regularly -- school, work, the gym, your favorite three-ring circus, etc. Ask around among your classmates, coworkers, teammates, or fellow clown-aficionados to see if any of them live near you. Your school or employer may also already have a carpool program that can connect you with people you don’t already know. If there isn’t one, you can always offer to help start one!

You can also try posting on social media pages for your neighborhood or using a carpool app or website to find folks around you who are also looking to carpool. Some sites will even let you verify your account with a school or work email address so that you can filter your search for just coworkers or classmates.

Remember that you don’t necessarily have to find someone who lives right next door or who’s heading to your exact destination. You can carpool with someone who lives a few neighborhoods over, or someone at a different workplace near yours. Carpooling routes can be pretty flexible as long as you’re not taking any major detours (because heading 10 miles in the opposite direction to pick somebody up may actually be more harmful to the environment than helpful).

(Please follow COVID-19 guidelines from your local health department, including wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance. Additional guidance can be found in the “COVID-19 Precautions” section of this guide.)

SAFETY TIP: An extra passenger means more distractions -- stay focused on the road and make sure everyone’s buckled up.

2) Plan out your trip.

So you’ve found your CFFs (carpool friends forever...or at least this semester). Now it’s time to get into the practical stuff -- starting with who’s going to drive. Obviously, we’d recommend putting the safest and most reliable driver behind the wheel. Or if you’re both stellar drivers, consider alternating! Help your driver find the most efficient route between everyone’s homes and your destination ahead of time, and keep in mind traffic and other road conditions.

Next, set a schedule for yourselves. Figure out when and where pick-ups will happen, both at the start and end of the day (because the last thing you want is to be wandering around aimlessly after school looking for your ride). And for those friends who are always texting, “Almost there!” while still chilling in bed, establish how long you’ll be able to wait around before leaving ‘em behind.

GREEN TIP: There’s a lot to consider when picking a driver, including your vehicle’s fuel efficiency to cut costs and carbon emissions. (A zero-emission electric vehicle like the Chevy EV Bolt would be best!)

3) Set some safety expectations.

Beyond just car etiquette (like not eating an entire pancake breakfast in your rear seat), set some clear expectations for safety. For starters, make sure everyone is buckled up before you hit the road -- wearing a seat belt is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. It’s also important for everyone to show up on time so that you aren’t speeding or driving aggressively to get to your destination faster.

Once you’re on the road, do everything you can to limit distractions for the driver. That means keeping the music down low and conversations to a minimum. If you’re not the one behind the wheel, be a good passenger and speak up if your driver is having a hard time focusing on the road. Offer to help handle the music, navigation, or other distractions.

SAFETY TIP: As a passenger, offer to hold onto your driver’s phone to keep them from checking texts or notifications (and as a driver, be ready to hand it over).

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

1) Be prepared to walk a little.

Even in places with really robust public transportation systems, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll find a route that takes you from your exact starting point to your exact destination. Get as close as you can, but don’t be afraid to do a bit of walking. After all, public transportation can help you turn a several-mile commute into one that’s less than a mile, so it’s a compromise worth making. (Check out the section above for more tips on walking commutes.)

GREEN TIP: Sometimes it can actually be more efficient to walk than take that extra transfer or ride unnecessary stops (and in terms of CO2 emissions, it’s better for the planet too).

2) Stay aware of your surroundings.

You may not have to worry about the actual driving and navigating when taking public transportation, but you can’t just zone out either. As tempting as that extra time to scroll through Twitter is, avoid the temptation of burying yourself in your phone -- instead, stay vigilant.

Know where the exits are, listen carefully for any announcements, and always keep track of where you and your belongings are. (Are you bumping into people with your backpack? Is your jacket at risk of getting caught in the doors?)

SAFETY TIP: Staying aware of your surroundings is just as important when you’re waiting at the bus stop or train platform!

3) Give yourself plenty of time.

Public transportation isn’t an exact science. Trains or busses may end up running behind or running into maintenance issues or just generally not operating exactly as you might expect them. Rather than trying to sway the universe into aligning everything just right for your morning bus ride, just plan for some missteps instead.

Build extra time into your schedule so that you aren’t stressing on your commute (and so you aren’t more likely to make a poor decision to save some time). Get there early, and you won’t be running or rushing onto a departing train or bus.

SAFETY TIP: If the doors are closing, don’t try to squeeze in -- waiting for the next one is always preferable to putting yourself in danger.

COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

1) Follow guidelines from your local health department.

First things first, use this tool to find your local health department, and make sure that you’re following any guidance or regulations for your specific area. More general information can be found at the CDC’s coronavirus hub page.

Some common guidance includes maintaining six feet of distance between you and other people and (properly and consistently) wearing masks when you’re out in public. It’s also important to maintain proper hand hygiene, washing your hands thoroughly and frequently. And of course, don’t travel or spend time around others if you’re feeling sick!

2) Take precautions when traveling with others.

In addition to the general guidance around COVID-19, there are specific steps you can take while traveling to make sure you’re staying healthy and safe -- especially when you’re traveling with other people (like carpooling or taking public transportation).

The safest option when carpooling is to carpool with members of your household or folks in your designated COVID-19 social bubble, if you have one. While in the car, keep the windows down to increase air circulation, and wear masks during the trip. Try to maintain your distance as much as possible too (so maybe ask your carpool buddy to ride in the rear seat rather than the front). As an extra precaution, use hand sanitizer when entering or exiting the vehicle, and limit touching any surfaces inside.

The same goes for public transportation -- wear masks, keep distance, sanitize, and avoid touching stuff! (That last one is especially crucial for public transportation because of how many folks pass through each day.) It’s easiest to avoid traveling with too many other people during non-peak hours, so plan accordingly!

3) Take opportunities to travel solo and distanced.

Ultimately, the most effective way to decrease your risk while traveling is to do it alone. If you’re able, opt for that solo walk or bike ride whenever possible. If the distance to your destination is too far, consider a combination of multiple methods! For example, you could take the bus to a reasonable distance from your destination and then walk the rest of the way, limiting the amount of time you’re spending on public transportation and around a lot of other people.