Why Act?

Automobiles are our primary local source of air pollution. One-third of our water pollution comes from particulate matter that started out as air pollution. The amount of vehicle miles traveled per household is increasing dramatically each year from close to 15,000 vehicle miles per year in 1984 to close to 19,000 in 2000. Carbon dioxide from cars is a huge contributor to climate change with the average car emitting an estimated 11,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Other pollution from cars includes motor oil, brake and transmission fluid, rubber particles, and heavy metals. By not driving, you will have the opportunity to get outside and exercise more or enjoy reporting for work in your home office in your pajamas!

Action Steps

1. Keep a car diary for two typical weeks to determine how you are currently using your car. Invite other household members who drive to join you. Determine which day of the week would be best for you to not drive.

2. Look at options for not driving one day using the following categories:
   • If you work, telecommuting, carpooling, biking, and public transportation are all options.
   • For grocery shopping and errands, walking, biking, and public transportation are the best options. To get organized, make a list of everything you need at the store and all the stops you need to make. Buy larger quantities each time. Write a date in your calendar for each errand you need to make each week.
   • If you have kids that need transport, set up a carpool with other parents.

3. If you work, discuss your plan for not driving to the office one day a week with your boss and family. Determine how much extra time you’ll need on the day you don’t drive, if any. Investigate the benefits/resources your employer offers for alternative transportation such as Metrochek, guaranteed ride home, and showers.

4. Pick your alternative transportation option(s) and investigate the specifics of how you’ll use them. Think about the weather – perhaps you’d like to try biking in the spring and fall and public transportation in the winter and summer.
   • If you’d like to use public transportation, research route options using the web sites below. Determine the schedules for bus/Metro/train routes you need to take and take a dry run, allowing plenty of time the first day.
   • If you’d like to bike, look at the resources below for determining a bike route and other considerations for getting around by bike. Consider finding someone else to bike with you, especially when you’re starting. An experienced biker can offer lots of helpful advice. Arlington County also has a useful bikeways system map available.
   • If you’d like to carpool, talk to others in your office or visit the Arlington County Commuters page for help connecting with a carpool.
   • If you’d like to telecommute, find a place at home that has a computer, phone and space for anything else you’ll need. If others will be home while you’re working, it’s important to establish a space with a closed door and rules for interruptions. Think about what information and files you’ll need to access at home.

5. Consider starting slowly by not driving one day a month, gradually building up to one day a week.

Materials

Pen, paper and the Internet for planning/research plus a bike, bus/Metro pass, etc.

Time

One to two hours to research and create a plan. Up to one hour per week to bike, carpool or use public transportation instead of driving. Increase in free time by combining transportation with exercise and by being more organized.

Resources

Arlington County Commuter Page
www.commuterpage.com

Arlington County Bike Information and Systems Map
www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/
dot/planning/bike/EnvironmentalServicesBicycling.aspx

Washington Area Bicycling Association
www.waba.org/

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority
www.wmata.com/