Introduction
My dream home is located in Barrhaven, which is about 12.5 kilometers from where I work, which is Algonquin College Ottawa Campus. It is not such a long distance between two points in the context of one city, but it does require the use of transportation to get there. Covering such a distance on foot is not a practical strategy, as this journey would take approximately two and a half hours, requiring significant resources of time and effort. However, the choice of transport should not be based only on the desire to save money because the environmental friendliness of the chosen means of transportation is a priority. In this paper, I attempt to determine the most convenient means of transportation to get from my home in Barrhaven to my workplace in the summer and winter.
Summer (S) Plan
One of the most environmentally friendly means of transportation that is reasonable to use in the summer is the bicycle. Given the average speed of a bicycle within the city and Google Maps suggestions, the average longest such transportation in the summertime would be thirty minutes. This route is through city streets and public parks, so the movement itself should be comfortable and physically easy. However, this transportation requires a significant financial investment.
According to preliminary calculations, the one-time cost of choosing such transportation would cost me $867, which can be rounded up to $1000. That is the cost of buying a bike, matching summer clothes, and all the extra equipment I will use every day when selecting this transportation. Remarkably, with a city bike, I save significantly on additional gasoline costs or public transportation tickets, and the money I save can be used as I see fit. However, it is also true that I will burn up to about 300 kcal per trip, which means I must get this energy in the form of food for my body to function effectively (Bubnis, 2019). In other words, every day, I will need to replace the calories I spend in the form of food bought or cooked at home. In terms of environmental awareness, cooking at home appears to be more environmentally friendly (Todini, 2021). For this reason, I will add approximately $5 for lunch each day to the resulting amount, which is $110 per month. Finally, including all repairs and replacements for clothing and equipment under unchanged summer climate conditions, the approximate cost of using an urban bicycle is $1,345.00, which can be rounded up to $1500. It should be said that the use of indicative prices is based on the Amazon platform, including delivery to Canada.
There are several reasons for choosing the bicycle as urban transportation to get home. First, it is more environmentally conscious than using polluting cars or buses. Second, it strengthens my body because daily cardio exercise is highly beneficial to my heart health and muscle tone (Palladino, 2021). Third, I find myself independent of public transportation schedules, so I can use my bike almost whenever I want. Finally, I can reduce my commute time with a bicycle because I do not have to stand in traffic jams, and I can quickly get through narrow neighborhoods.
Winter (W) Plan
Winter transportation can continue to be used during the winter season because city roads are usually cleared, and few real obstacles exist to bicycling. According to the calculations, the average annual cost of using a winter bicycle would be $1100, which is about 10% more expensive than a summer set. The motivation for choosing a bicycle in the winter season is for the same reasons as for the summer season. However, for understandable reasons of inclement weather and inconvenience, it may not be proper to use a bicycle. In this case, it is more environmentally friendly than a personal car to use public transportation, be it buses or streetcars (Timperley, 2020). Public transportation requires much less expensive than a bicycle because there is no need to buy a vehicle and additional equipment for it. The cost of a monthly ticket subscription was chosen for public transportation because it is the cheapest choice. In budget planning, the annual cost of choosing public transportation was found to be a more expensive alternative to bicycling. In this sense, it is proper to suggest a combination of winter biking and public transportation, although in this case, there is no need to purchase a monthly ticket subscription, as this turns out to be a significantly more expensive choice.
The motivation to use public transport can also be justified for several reasons. Firstly, unlike a car, the bus or even the streetcar is more environmentally friendly. Second, in the case of public transportation, I do not have to think about fuel or repairs because the city government does it for me. Third, public transportation often has a dedicated road line, so there is less chance of traffic congestion. Finally, I am protected from rain, cold, and snow on public transportation, so my commute turns out to be more comfortable.
As has been shown, using a personal bicycle or scooter is not always a comfortable alternative to public transportation or a car. Weather conditions, a desire for increased comfort, or a desire to save time may be decisive predictors of choosing a car or bus over a bicycle. However, it should be understood that there are several disadvantages associated with such a choice, and a critical discussion of them is valuable for an environmentally informed choice.
Regarding public transportation, whether bus or streetcar, several strengths, and weaknesses of use should be highlighted. First, buses always run on schedule, which helps to plan the route carefully. In the absence of traffic jams or accidents along the way, buses prove to be a very punctual alternative for getting around. Second, if I choose public transportation, I do not have to worry about parking or pay money for paid parking since buses have arranged stops throughout the city. Third, I can expect the bus to be one of the safest ground transportation options since the drivers are usually highly experienced, have daily medical examinations, and are professionals.
However, public transportation is not without disadvantages, which can be decisive for an individual in deciding not to use this mode of transportation. In particular, public transportation increases the risk of socially dangerous events, up to and including theft of personal belongings, the transmission of infections, or terrorist attacks due to mass crowds of people. Secondly, during rush hour, when I will be returning home from work, public transportation can be crowded with people, which dramatically decreases the comfort of the trip. Finally, it is tough to carry luggage and heavy bags on public transportation, especially during rush hours.
Choosing a personal car may seem like a more relevant alternative. First of all, the car comes with increased comfort, where I can choose the temperature of the cabin, the music, and even the pace of travel. Secondly, in the car, I find myself freer to move around and can choose my route. Finally, I do not have to worry about the possibility of contracting diseases since I am the only one in the car. However, there are serious disadvantages to owning a private car. In particular, I need to pay regular insurance premiums to protect my possessions from damage and theft. Second, a personal vehicle is highly accident-prone, and statistics show that up to 445 collisions occur every day in Canada (Insurance Hotline, 2021). Finally, choosing a personal vehicle is one of the costliest options because I have to pay for the purchase, maintenance, repairs, and even fuel.
Conclusion
Changing my detrimental environmental footprint is a priority from an environmental awareness perspective. There are several principled options for reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation. First, you should be more careful with consumables so that they last longer. This applies to rubber tires, bearings, and machine oil – reducing spending on these materials has a positive effect on the environment. Second, in the case of using public transportation, I should do away with paper receipts and replace them with electronic checks, if applicable. Finally, in the case of bicycles, I should look out for recycled materials, including tires, plastic water bottles, or helmets, which will also contribute to more environmentally friendly consumption.
References
Bubnis, D. (2019). How many calories do you burn biking? Healthline.
Insurance Hotline. (2021). 5 times when you’re more likely to get in a car accident. Insurance Hotline.
OC Transpo. (2022). Prices. OC Transpo.
Palladino, A. (2021). 12 benefits of cycling, plus safety tips. Healthline.
Timperley, J. (2020). How our daily travel harms the planet. BBC.
Todini, K. (2021). Is cooking at home better for the environment? Fork in the Road.