2 May 2005Environmental News NetworkPaul Geary
The month of May is when many people start thinking about their plans for vacations for summer, and Memorial Day is the start of the traditional "driving season." With fuel prices at all-time highs and concern about the environment growing, there will be an environment-consciousness component to vacation planning for many.Here is information for those thinking about the environmental ramifications of summer travel, and some of the choices available to those who'd like to enjoy their summer trip, but with a lighter environmental footprint.The transit industry contributes a significant portion of our air pollution. In 1975, the transit industry accounted for about 350 million metric tons of particulate-matter emission in the US; that figure had increased to 500 million metric tons by 2000, according to the US Department of Transportation.So, reducing the amount of fuel used, and the amount of pollution created while on your vacation can help to reduce this number in the future.CarsNearly 30% of our air pollution is directly attributable to cars. However, a large percentage of the miles we drive is from daily commuting to work. In fact, about 80% of commuters in the US constitute one person driving a car. A family of four traveling in a vehicle that gets 30 mpg is getting five times the person-miles per gallon that the lone commuter in a typical car gets.One option you may have, depending where you travel, is renting a hybrid car. One company in car-crazy Los Angeles, EV Rental Cars, rents electric and hybrids: Hybrid Car Rental. If a firm like that isn't available in the city you're going to, many of the large traditional car-rental agencies offer high-mileage cars like the Toyota Echo, which gets in the 45 mpg range.AirlinesAirline travel has never been less expensive. Low-cost airlines have made the price of some trips nearly as inexpensive as a car trip, especially in the Northeast corridor. For example, a $39 one-way fare is available on some airlines from Boston to Washington, DC. That trip would cost about $50 (with tolls) in a car that gets 20 mpg. The per person-mile cost is less in the airplane, assuming someone driving alone.The ubiquitous Boeing 737 -- all of Southwest Airlines' planes are this model -- uses about 800 gallons of jet fuel per hour -- about 1/2 of a mile per hour at the typical 400 mph cruising speed. This is impressive when compared to say, a Hummer H-2, which gets about 10 mpg. A typical 737 flight containing 100 people flying a two-hour, 800 mile flight gets 50 miles per person per gallon -- about the same as a car that gets 25 mpg carrying two people.Newer planes are becoming more fuel-efficient when viewed in terms of fuel used per person-mile traveled (as opposed to passenger cars, whose average mileage has gone down from nearly 26 mpg in 1987 to about 24 in 2004). European company Airbus has created a giant new plane -- the A380 -- which claims to be 30% more fuel-efficient than the Boeing 747. The first version of the A380 will hold 555 passengers, with planned later models boasting capacities approaching 1000 people.Air pollution and noise pollution are of course causes for concern in the areas immediately around airports. But the overall environmental record of the air-travel industry is getting better. Emissions standards for airplanes have been increased greatly in Europe, and in the US the updating of airline fleets to more fuel-efficient planes should contribute to improvement. Air travel gives us the ability to go great distances in a fuel-efficient manner, and without air travel visiting some of the world's greatest natural wonders, and experiencing other cultures, would be much more difficult.Train travelTrain travel is very clean and fuel-efficient. Train travel is far more extensive in Europe and Japan than in the US. Not many Americans choose train travel as a vacation option, but Amtrak goes to hundreds of destinations all over the country. You'll see parts of the nation you'd otherwise miss by driving on an interstate highway or flying over. There are sleeper options for long distance travel, and Amtrak offers deeply discounted specials on its website. Unfortunately Amtrak's high-speed Acela trains in the Northeast Corridor have been taken offline due to brake problems discovered during routine inspections. Amtrak still offers a full slate of routes. You can learn about those options on the Amtrak website: www.amtrak.com. If you're traveling in Canada, one way to see the beautiful Canadian countryside is a trip on one of Rail Canada's trains: http://www.viarail.ca.CruisesThe cruise industry is bigger than ever. Cruise line companies are building bigger and bigger ships and hundreds of thousands of people cruise each year. However, it might not be a very green option. We ran a story about cruise ship waste in April that might guide you in your decision about this vacation option. You can read it here: Lawmakers and Environmentalists Push New Marine Pollution Law on Cruise Ship Waste.Once you're thereOne easy way to lighten the environmental impact of your trip is to avoid car use altogether once at your destination. Most of our national parks are best enjoyed by hiking, biking, or the use of non-motorized watercraft. And, that alleviates the price of gas, tolls, and parking.If your vacation destination is a large city, become familiar with that city's public transit system. This can be an adventure in itself -- using the New York City subway system, for instance, is the best way to get around town, and learn about what life is like for real New Yorkers. Most cities have extensive transit website to help you plan your way around the city your visiting. As an example, this is New York City's: New York City subway system.Further readingIf you're interested in the transit industry and want to now what the major trends are, the US Department of Transportation provides an analysis on the changes coming in the transit industry. You can download that here. It's a pretty huge file -- 22 megabytes -- for the real policy enthusiast: The Changing Face of Transportation. Read it when you get home!
