Maggie Redfern bikes to work unless it's raining heavily, snowing, or the temperature drops below 20 degrees. New to Connecticut College Arboretum.
“Living near downtown makes life easier without a car,” says Redfern. “I can take the bus up the hill if I need to, or borrow one from a friend, but I usually ride my bike.”
For many people, cars are an integral part of everyday life. They are embedded in the current fabric of our society. A symbol of status and wealth. Redfern admits he would have considered buying a car if he couldn't ride a bike.
“One of the hardest parts of not owning a car is the general expectation that everyone has or needs one,” said Redfern. “We are embedded in society in so many ways: land dedicated to cars and parking spaces, lack of public transport, and even the way we consume goods.”
It wasn't always like that. It wasn't even 100 years ago that we became dependent on private cars. In the early 1920s, the automobile industry began working to change public opinion in response to growing feelings that the automobile was undemocratic, disruptive to communities, and dangerous. Cars aren't the problem, it's the pedestrians who have made the auto industry coined "jaywalk", and the real problem, combined with the ordinance and the lack of space for cars.At least that's what Americans believe It was what they wanted, and they were able to change most of the public's feelings.
By the 1960s, American cities and towns were being rebuilt and motorized. Black neighborhoods were often destroyed in the process, creating entirely new communities that could not be moved without a car.
According to the US Census Bureau, more than 90% of American households now own at least one car. According to Take the Jump, car ownership is projected to double by 2040.
It's no secret that all these cars are killing us and the planet. Transport accounts for about a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, making air travel an easy climate target, but more than two-thirds of transport emissions come from vehicles on the road. increase. Their use also contributes to air pollution. And while electric vehicles are slowly gaining traction, they still contribute to pollution, even though they emit significantly less emissions than fossil fuel-fueled vehicles.
Redfern doesn't own a car, but when he needs to go to places that aren't accessible by public transport, or pick up something big and bulky, he uses car sharing or a friend's I am using a car.
On a personal level, giving up fossil fuel-powered cars is one of the most important actions we can take to mitigate the climate crisis. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ditching one car prevents about 4.6 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the environment each year. The average US carbon footprint is 16 tons per year.
organization and planning
Choosing not to own a car was not a real decision for Redfern, but a natural extension of her life. When she moved to New London from Boston in the fall of 2014, she lived in college without a car, so she never got used to the convenience of owning one.
For Redfern, not having a car requires organization and a high degree of planning. When shopping, make a thorough list of what you need and buy only the essentials. But that decision had other positive consequences for her life and the wider community.
"When I moved to New London, I lived downtown and walked everywhere," says Redfern. “I was amazed at the diversity of trees. I thought it would be fun to share with others."
Redfern compiled a list of trees and started a tree walk from the New London Public Library.
"Trees are part of our history and part of our community," Redfern said. "People remember the tree from their childhood and it connects us to the times before we got here."
As tree walks became more popular, Refern connected with more people in the community. Among them was a city official who wanted to see how London could improve its canopy. In the summer of 2018, with the help of a grant, they took an inventory of the trees. By the time they were finishing up their inventory, the city was installing a new sidewalk on Plant Street. As part of that plan, there was a proposal to cut down all the trees and eventually plant new ones.
"There has been so much community support not to cut down trees to build sidewalks, so we're trying to defend existing trees and see what we can do to plant more trees in the city." , ended up forming a group that began to meet regularly," she said.
It was the beginning of New London Trees, which have planted new trees in the city since 2019, some of which Redfern has propagated himself and grows in his backyard.
It all started with the decision not to own a car.
"I think it's a bit of an experiment. Not using the car has definitely strengthened my relationships with my friends and neighbors because they've become more supportive of each other," says Redfern. I was. “You can also run into a lot of people you know on the streets of New London, which makes the ride even more enjoyable.”
"If I'm the only one riding my bike to work or recycling, it's just a drop in the bucket, especially when it comes to climate issues. But if I'm working with a group of people, the total It's bigger than the parts," says Redfern. He said. “If we can partner with each other and with the cities we live in, I think that is really important in making a difference.”
5 ways to reduce car dependency
1. If the trip is 2 miles or less, consider walking or biking.
2. Use public transportation
3. Ride-sharing, informal ride-sharing with friends can also help.
4. Keep the car as long as possible. The sooner you replace it, the more emissions you release.
5. Replace your car with an electric vehicle or at least a hybrid.
What changes, big or small, have you made to reduce your carbon footprint? Post them in the comments on this article on theday.com or email us at [email protected] .