New Westminster Environmental Almanac (2917 ... - Douglas College

Environmental Citizenship
Transportation
In the GVRD, the automobile is the most common form of
transportation. Air quality of our region is directly affected by the
emissions of our motor vehicles. In 1999, 58% of all air pollution
emissions came from light duty vehicle exhaust, which includes cars and
small trucks. This is an area of concern that has deservingly received a
lot of attention. Many municipalities have been and continue to provide
and promote alternate forms of transportation. In relation to other
municipalities in the region, New Westminster is well connected to the
local transit system with bus and Skytrain service. Additionally, the city
has made building greenways and multi-use pathways a priority.
However, it is ultimately up to individual residents to make an effort to
minimize the effects of their transportation on the environment.
Walk, bicycle, or use other forms of non-motorized
transportation whenever possible.
Use transit instead of your car on trips that cannot be made
on foot or bicycle.
Carpool as often as possible when not using transit.
Even if you decide to drive there are things that can be considered:
Avoid rush hour whenever possible.
Idle you engine as little as possible when warming up you
car and shut off the engine during short stops.
When buying a car take into account the fuel efficiency.
Here are some useful resources for even more tips on how to keep our
city environmentally friendly:
BC Hydro Website
www.bchydro.com
Douglas College Institute of Urban
Ecology
www.douglas.bc.ca/iue
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GVRD Website
www.gvrd.bc.ca
New Westminster Recycling
Depot
www.city.new-westminster.bc.ca/
cityhall/operations/recycling/
index.html