litr:transport

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litr:transport [2025/12/05 19:01] – Simon Grantlitr:transport [2026/04/15 15:29] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Low-impact transport+This topic is part of [[gt:transport|Transport & freight]]. 
 +====== Low-impact transport ======
  
  
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-## What is low-impact transport?+===== What is low-impact transport? =====
  
 It’s moving people and freight in ways that don’t damage nature, communities and individuals to the extent that the current transport system does – everything from carbon and pollution emissions to covering the countryside in asphalt and concrete and making communities unhealthy, ugly and dangerous. The main culprits are the car, aviation and oil industries, and their impact can be reduced in several ways: It’s moving people and freight in ways that don’t damage nature, communities and individuals to the extent that the current transport system does – everything from carbon and pollution emissions to covering the countryside in asphalt and concrete and making communities unhealthy, ugly and dangerous. The main culprits are the car, aviation and oil industries, and their impact can be reduced in several ways:
-### Reducing the need for transport at all+==== Reducing the need for transport at all ====
  
 This includes designing [communities](comy:community) so that housing, work, shopping, schools and leisure are closer together rather than zoned, like Milton Keynes and most US cities. This may mean reducing the scale of enterprises, but [that works for us](smal:small). Then there's working from home, online meetings and conferences, and low-impact [[lito:tourism]], without flying This includes designing [communities](comy:community) so that housing, work, shopping, schools and leisure are closer together rather than zoned, like Milton Keynes and most US cities. This may mean reducing the scale of enterprises, but [that works for us](smal:small). Then there's working from home, online meetings and conferences, and low-impact [[lito:tourism]], without flying
 . .
-### Fuel efficiency / alternative fuels+==== Fuel efficiency / alternative fuels ====
  
-Fuel efficiency only works to reduce overall fuel use in a [stable, non-growing economy](/stea/steady-state_economics), as shown in this graph:+Fuel efficiency only works to reduce overall fuel use in a [stable, non-growing economy](pgec:post-growth), as shown in this graph:
  
 <WRAP center centeralign> <WRAP center centeralign>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Fuel consumption has almost doubled in the US since 1970, despite fuel efficiency improvements. Source: US Energy Information Administration.+_Fuel consumption has almost doubled in the US since 1970, despite fuel efficiency improvements. Source: US Energy Information Administration._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 More sustainable ways to power transport (than burning fossil fuels) include [electricity](elvh:electric_vehicles) (from renewables); [wood gas](gasf:gasification); [[biod:biodiesel]] (from waste cooking oil); [wind](sail:sail_boats); and muscle power ([[walk:walking]], [[cycl:cycling]] and [animals](woho:working_horses)) More sustainable ways to power transport (than burning fossil fuels) include [electricity](elvh:electric_vehicles) (from renewables); [wood gas](gasf:gasification); [[biod:biodiesel]] (from waste cooking oil); [wind](sail:sail_boats); and muscle power ([[walk:walking]], [[cycl:cycling]] and [animals](woho:working_horses))
 . .
-### Sharing vehicles+==== Sharing vehicles ====
  
 This ranges from sharing our private vehicles ([[cars:car sharing]] or [[hitc:hitchhiking]]) to sharing public vehicles (trains, buses etc.). This ranges from sharing our private vehicles ([[cars:car sharing]] or [[hitc:hitchhiking]]) to sharing public vehicles (trains, buses etc.).
  
-### Freight / moving goods more sustainably+==== Freight / moving goods more sustainably ====
  
 Inland freight is best transported by [canal](/nrbo/narrowboats) (requires around 6% of the energy per tonne / km compared to trucks, and 2.3% compared to air freight), or by train (9% and 3% respectively), according to the [US Dept. of Energy](https://tedb.ornl.gov/). International freight – well, [sail](/sail/sail_boats) cargo is [making a comeback](https://ecoclipper.org/). Inland freight is best transported by [canal](/nrbo/narrowboats) (requires around 6% of the energy per tonne / km compared to trucks, and 2.3% compared to air freight), or by train (9% and 3% respectively), according to the [US Dept. of Energy](https://tedb.ornl.gov/). International freight – well, [sail](/sail/sail_boats) cargo is [making a comeback](https://ecoclipper.org/).
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 <caption> <caption>
-This is low-impact transport…+_This is low-impact transport…_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of low-impact transport?+===== What are the benefits of low-impact transport? =====
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 - Reduces fossil fuel consumption: transport produces more carbon emissions than any other sector in Western countries – around a third. - Reduces fossil fuel consumption: transport produces more carbon emissions than any other sector in Western countries – around a third.
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 <caption> <caption>
-... and this isn't.+_... and this isn't._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Community / individual+==== Community / individual ====
  
 - Reduces accidents, congestion and noise (and fewer giant articulated trucks trundling through your town or village). - Reduces accidents, congestion and noise (and fewer giant articulated trucks trundling through your town or village).
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-### Democracy+==== Democracy ====
  
-- Fewer cars sold and fewer flights means less money for car, aviation and oil corporations and less wealth concentration, which [corrupts democracy](/thde/the_democracy_problem).+- Fewer cars sold and fewer flights means less money for car, aviation and oil corporations and less wealth concentration, which [corrupts democracy](/demo/democracy).
  
  
  
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 If we want a sustainable transport system, then the private car has to take the brunt. But ultimately, if we want to move away from an expensive system that causes regular gridlock and damages the environment as well as our health and communities, then it should be cheaper and easier for four people (let alone one) to travel by public transport rather than by car - and we’re a long way from that. So we have to accept that car use should be a bit more expensive / inconvenient to allow public transport, walking and cycling to become cheaper / more convenient. We’re never going to get a transport system like the one above unless we start to change our habits. If we want a sustainable transport system, then the private car has to take the brunt. But ultimately, if we want to move away from an expensive system that causes regular gridlock and damages the environment as well as our health and communities, then it should be cheaper and easier for four people (let alone one) to travel by public transport rather than by car - and we’re a long way from that. So we have to accept that car use should be a bit more expensive / inconvenient to allow public transport, walking and cycling to become cheaper / more convenient. We’re never going to get a transport system like the one above unless we start to change our habits.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Would our communities be better or worse without all this?+_Would our communities be better or worse without all this?_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 Starting with the assumption that you have a car, these are the things you can do, in order of effectiveness (some of you will start further down this list than others): Starting with the assumption that you have a car, these are the things you can do, in order of effectiveness (some of you will start further down this list than others):
-### Increasing the fuel efficiency of your car+==== Increasing the fuel efficiency of your car ====
  
 Reduce the amount of fuel you burn by: Reduce the amount of fuel you burn by:
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 - And not having a 4x4 unless you live on a farm. - And not having a 4x4 unless you live on a farm.
-### Changing the fuel your car uses+==== Changing the fuel your car uses ====
  
 Move away from fossil fuels by: Move away from fossil fuels by:
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 <caption> <caption>
-Walking – the greenest mode of transport of all: the more you do, the fitter you’ll get, with no environmental side-effects.+_Walking – the greenest mode of transport of all: the more you do, the fitter you’ll get, with no environmental side-effects._
  
 </caption> </caption>
  
 </figure> </figure>
-</WRAP +</WRAP> 
-> + 
-### Sharing your car+==== Sharing your car ====
  
 Help reduce the number of vehicles required by: Help reduce the number of vehicles required by:
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 - Including picking up [hitchhikers](hitc:hitchhiking). - Including picking up [hitchhikers](hitc:hitchhiking).
-### Phasing out your car+==== Phasing out your car ====
  
 With a global population heading towards 10 billion, there doesn’t really seem to be a way to have cars sustainably (unless you think that only certain privileged people should have them). In a world without cars, we’d have to reorganise ourselves so that most of what we need to do is within walking and cycling distance. With a global population heading towards 10 billion, there doesn’t really seem to be a way to have cars sustainably (unless you think that only certain privileged people should have them). In a world without cars, we’d have to reorganise ourselves so that most of what we need to do is within walking and cycling distance.
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 <caption> <caption>
-40% of car journeys are less than 2 miles. Only 27% of people questioned disagreed with the statement “Many of the journeys of less than 2 miles that I now make by car I could just as well walk.” Source: UK Office for National Statistics.+_40% of car journeys are less than 2 miles. Only 27% of people questioned disagreed with the statement “Many of the journeys of less than 2 miles that I now make by car I could just as well walk.” Source: UK Office for National Statistics._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 - Having a go at [hitchhiking](/hitc/hitchhiking). - Having a go at [hitchhiking](/hitc/hitchhiking).
  
-### Combining some or all of the above+==== Combining some or all of the above ====
  
 For example, you could work from home 2 days per week, car share on the other 3 days (in an electric vehicle), and cycle or walk for any other short journeys (that’s covered most things!). You can hire a car or get the occasional taxi (we [don’t recommend Über](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/beware-the-sharing-economy-back-door-for-a-more-rapacious-form-of-capitalism/) – but there are [co-operative options](https://taxiapp.uk.com/) now - just search for coop taxis and the name of your town), when you need to - or just use a local cab firm. For example, you could work from home 2 days per week, car share on the other 3 days (in an electric vehicle), and cycle or walk for any other short journeys (that’s covered most things!). You can hire a car or get the occasional taxi (we [don’t recommend Über](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/beware-the-sharing-economy-back-door-for-a-more-rapacious-form-of-capitalism/) – but there are [co-operative options](https://taxiapp.uk.com/) now - just search for coop taxis and the name of your town), when you need to - or just use a local cab firm.
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 But people are wary of giving up their car, especially in rural areas, when public transport can be unreliable, so... But people are wary of giving up their car, especially in rural areas, when public transport can be unreliable, so...
  
-### Campaigning+==== Campaigning ====
  
 You can help to campaign for more sustainable transport generally – see the [Campaign for Better Transport](http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/) or [Sustrans](https://www.sustrans.org.uk/). Campaigns could include subsidies for public transport, stopping bus and train route closures, cycle lanes, giving coaches their own lanes on motorways, pedestrianisation etc. You can help to campaign for more sustainable transport generally – see the [Campaign for Better Transport](http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/) or [Sustrans](https://www.sustrans.org.uk/). Campaigns could include subsidies for public transport, stopping bus and train route closures, cycle lanes, giving coaches their own lanes on motorways, pedestrianisation etc.
  
-### Not flying+==== Not flying ====
  
 Reduce your air miles, or better still, give up flying altogether. Again, with a population of 10 billion, everyone flying ‘only’ once a year would be suicidal; but if only a small percentage of the world are able to do it, that’s really elitist. We have to stop burning fossil fuels, so a sustainable society can’t really contain an aviation industry. Reduce your air miles, or better still, give up flying altogether. Again, with a population of 10 billion, everyone flying ‘only’ once a year would be suicidal; but if only a small percentage of the world are able to do it, that’s really elitist. We have to stop burning fossil fuels, so a sustainable society can’t really contain an aviation industry.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are set to rise from 7% now to 25% by 2050 – but aviation fuel is exempt from taxes (House of Commons Library Briefing Paper, Oct 2019).+_Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are set to rise from 7% now to 25% by 2050 – but aviation fuel is exempt from taxes (House of Commons Library Briefing Paper, Oct 2019)._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
-### Freight+ 
 +==== Freight ====
  
 Support sustainable freight [buying local](lish:shopping), [[down:downshifting]] and/or finding goods brought from overseas [via sailing boats](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/how-we-got-olive-oil-from-a-small-farm-in-portugal-brought-over-in-a-sailboat-by-a-co-operative-based-in-brighton-and-how-you-can-do-the-same/). Support sustainable freight [buying local](lish:shopping), [[down:downshifting]] and/or finding goods brought from overseas [via sailing boats](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/how-we-got-olive-oil-from-a-small-farm-in-portugal-brought-over-in-a-sailboat-by-a-co-operative-based-in-brighton-and-how-you-can-do-the-same/).
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:transport|Transport & freight]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/transport). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Campaign for Better Transport](https://bettertransport.org.uk/) 
 +- [Living Streets](https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/) - making streets safe for walking 
 +- [Walk Wheel Cycle Trust](https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/) - helping make it possible for everyone to walk & cycle 
 +- [TransForm Scotland](https://transform.scot/) - promoting sustainable transport in Scotland  
 +- [BusUsers](https://bususers.org/) - championing bus passengers 
 +- [Rail Passengers](https://www.railpassengers.org.uk/) - protecting the interests of rail passengers 
 +- [RailFuture](https://www.railfuture.org.uk/Welcome-to-Railfuture) - campaigning for improvements to the UK passenger and freight rail network 
 +- [Car Free](https://carfree.com/) - site dedicated to solving the problems of cars in cities 
 +- [RoadBlock](https://www.roadblock.org.uk/) - against road building 
 +- [Hacan](https://hacan.org.uk/) - fighting airport expansion 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [[cars:car_sharing|Car sharing]]
 +- [[cycl:Cycling]]
 +- [[elvh:Electric vehicles]]
 +- [[gasf:Gasification]]
 +- [[lito:tourism|Low-impact tourism]]
 +- [[sail:Sail boats]]
 +- [[walk:Walking|Walking/hiking]]
  
-## Specialists+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  • litr/transport.1764961301.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/05 19:01
  • by Simon Grant