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Working together toward local sustainability - integrating economy, ecology and community via action and education |
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Creating Alternatives
Recently we were pleased to meet representatives from
The Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, Inc., walklive.org/
and to learn about new and exciting steps they are taking to make our communities accessible to everyone.
Walking will get you the equivalent of 300 miles per gallon and it's good for your heart and your muscles. If you do not have the time to walk then a bicycle will get you there quicker with an equivalent of 900 mpg.
Bikes are so important to community development and health, that we will soon be expanding our web site to include a new section dedicated just to bikes. We support our local bicycle community. Port Townsend has many wonderful trails accessible by bicycle.
If you have activities, want to promote your business, or find out about how to rent bikes for weekend visits or longer term stays, use the links available from our web site, or contact us with your requests.
If you have physical challenges that inhibit a lot of pedaling but still want to explore alternatives, there are many two, three, and four wheeled electric scooters available proving up to 1000 mpg equivalent. There are also many varieties of electric assisted bicycles.
See our Resources page for local listings and happenings
We have a transit system which is now running a 20% biodiesel mix. A transit bus carrying as few as seven passengers is more efficient on energy use than the average commuter car. Of course, the more people that use it the better the figures. Next up the scale is the personal car. Here it is best to purchase the most fuel efficient car you can and car pool as much as possible. There are now several car manufacturers offering Hybrid vehicles and soon we will have the choice of purchasing Plug-In Hybrids which use only electricity for most of your local commuting. You may not have to go to the gas station for months.
Another choice is to purchase a diesel vehicle and run biodiesel. We are lucky to have that fuel available here in Port Townsend. Last year the entire U.S. produced 75 million gallons. The new plant going into production this year in Grays Harbor County will produce 100 million gallons. Another plant producing 35 million will go online in this state in 2008. We can look forward to decreased costs for biodiesel.
Nearly 40% of all the oil used in the U.S. is for transportation. Oil consumption for transportation has grown a staggering 20% from 1991 to 2003 largely due to flat fuel efficiency standards and an increased number of vehicles on the road.
Americans represent 5% of the world's population but drive almost one third of the world’s cars. We are currently pumping out around 2 billion metric tons of CO2 out of our exhaust pipes per year, nearly half the CO2 pumped out of exhaust pipes into the atmosphere each year in the entire world. This affects our weather, our health and our wallets.
Port Townsend Video
Bike Commuting Made Easy
Video - Information on Hybrid Vehicles
online video here
Click here
North Olympic Peninsula's Local 20/20, Port Townsend and surrounding communities
Working together toward local sustainability - integrating economy, ecology and community through action and education.
Working together toward local sustainability - integrating economy, ecology and community through action and education.
Web site space donated by OlympusNet
Additional thanks to:
WSU Main Homepage, WSU Extension and County Extension Offices,
the Agricultural Research Center, CAHNRS, and the North Olympic Learning Center
Looking for more information? Send us an Email
Additional thanks to:
WSU Main Homepage, WSU Extension and County Extension Offices,
the Agricultural Research Center, CAHNRS, and the North Olympic Learning Center
Looking for more information? Send us an Email
