Alternative Transportation

Striving to avoid high-prices at the pump? Using alternative forms of transportation can reduce your expenses and can help lower the amount of green house gases being released into the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2008, transportation sources were responsible for 27 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

Driving to and from work each day is often a major contributor to the amount of time the average resident spends in the car each year. By finding alternative ways to get to work, residents can not only reduce their fuel bills, but they can also limit the wear and tear to their vehicle and help the environment.

Here are a few green options:

• Walking or biking to work can be a great way to reduce your fuel consumption and get in a daily work-out. Of course, this option is best for those that live close to their workplace and those who don't mind exerting a little energy of their own.
• Carpooling with other employees to work can be another viable option. Although it won't eliminate the need for a car completely, it will reduce the total impact on your gas bill and the environment. If there aren't other employees in your office interested in sharing a ride, you can also check with other local organizations that pair carpoolers together who work and live in close proximity.
• Buses: The Johnson County Transit department also offers The Jo, a bus that takes commuters throughout the metro. The Jo runs more than 20 routes a day and transports riders downtown, throughout Johnson County, and even to Lawrence.