Long Island, Meet Sustainable Transport

      It is agreed that a sustainable lifestyle consists of living daily life without exhausting natural resources faster than they can be replenished. In order to accomplish a level of sustainability, people must make certain educated decisions regarding transport, housing, energy, diet and waste management.

      Living on Long Island for over eighteen years, I have come to realize that we travel in an all too wasteful manner. The HOV lane on the Long Island Expressway is juxtaposed next to the other three lanes as a mere witness to the gluttonousness of transport on the island. As the HOV lane moves smoothly, the other three lanes, in most places, are jam-packed with cars transporting only one person.

      Now you may be saying, “I take the train, the bus, or I walk or ride a bike to my various destinations.” Kudos to you my friends, as for the rest of you, consider these fun facts: Carbon Dioxide emissions are at all time highs. Carbon dioxide emissions pollute the air we breathe, and cause other problems such as global temperature change.

      If you live on Eastern Long Island, you may not know that public buses run almost everywhere. And if not, investigate. Make a list of the places you travel to most often. Often times, buses service places such as colleges, your local mall or shopping center, and most movie theatres. Buses usually stop at these places hourly. Also, if you’re traveling a little farther, take the train. The LIRR is fairly inexpensive, and goes almost anywhere. And buses stop at train stations as well.

      Furthermore, if you live and drive in the city you are insane. Sell your car and buy a motorized scooter. You will get through traffic faster, and save tons of money in gas, parking, and parking tickets.

      A few simple lifestyle modifications can reduce the amounts of carbon dioxide emissions, save Greenland from melting, and keep the lovely Long Island above sea level. Enlighten yourself, and see the value of sustainable transportation for your generation and the next.

Written by Sheuli Molla