Today is Blog Action Day 2009. I’m no radical environmentalist who chains himself to redwoods. But I want to know how to reduce my carbon footprint. Naturally this relates directly cycling. Terrific. Yet there’s so much more.
If learning the size of your carbon footprint sounds pie-in-the-sky, take heart. This calculator from the Nature Conservancy will help you start to figure out not only the carbon footprint you and/or your family create today. It will help illustrate how behavior change and habits can reduce it — and by how much. Consider: a mid-sized car that travels 12,000 miles a year generates about 9 tons of carbon dioxide. The same car racking up 40,000 miles? That’s 30 tons of carbon dioxide.
How much carbon dioxide does a bike produce?
According to the Bicycle Coaltion of Greater Philadelphia, the answer is easy. Zero. Well, I doubt that. We have to eat. We breathe. Bicycle and rubber manufacturing processes are hardly benign. But a bike still surely beats a car. I hope you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with ways to help contribute to positive climate change — and continue to ride your bike as much as possible. When you do, you help protect this. A tip of the hat to @thaloporter. Beautiful photostream.
Related posts:
- The ride’s the thing: Why I bike This post originally appeared in the blog, 30 Days of Biking, on April 1. I’m popping it up on BC in its entirety for posterity’s sake. Also because I’m lazy today. Why do I ride? That’s like asking me why I breathe. Riding a bike is part of who I...
- Magic carpet ride Any reader of this blog knows I’ve got a serious crush on my Moots. It’s been that way since I set eyes on her in 2005 and took my first Moots-inspired bike ride. If it came down to a choice of one bike today, the decision would be simple: titanium. Exotic...
- Where are you going? Where are you going? When on the bike, do you prefer point-to-point rides? Loops? A GPS and pre-loaded maps? Whatever the road serves up? The trainer with a DVD and power meter? After watching Bicycle Dreams a second time this week, I can’t get a quote out of my head....
- Some days are like that Rain outside means no ride. Pavement is soaked. Puddles are forming and re-forming. Sunday looks no better. I’m doing a short keyboard session. Indoors, fueled by coffee, cookies and whatever else gets in my path. Channeling an inner hunger for a good ride and scenery. Saving up. Some days are...
- Straying eye I’ve been trying out SRAM Force on the road this week. It’s awkward — but in a pleasant way. The reason for me is simple: I’ve ridden DA far longer. The first aspirational or magical gruppo you come in contact with can stay with you forever, if you’re happy with...
