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Walking, Biking and Climate Change

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Walking, Biking and Climate Change Climate The Short Trip with Big Impacts: Walking, Biking and Climate Change Transportation is a leading source of climate pollution rep- resenting approximately 30 percent of overall U.S. emissions in 2005 (EPA 2007). It is also the fastest rising source of CO2 emissions. Steady increases in vehicle use will negate improvements in fuel efficiency and alternative fuels use (CCAP 2007). Travel demand, with walking, biking and transit as key elements, must become a central part of the national strategy to manage climate change. Short trips under three miles represent nearly half of all trips (FHWA 2006), but cars are the domi- nant mode. With most trips within a Capital City Trail, Wisconsin. © JANE BROOKSTEIN / RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY 15- to 20-minute bike ride, many of these trips are ripe for conversion to Global Consensus and Local Actions: Climate Change and walking and biking. Main Street Walking and biking currently Climate change has become an increasingly important policy issue. We have moved have a much stronger impact on into an era of not only scientific consensus, but also increasing political acceptance that climate management than the climate change is a major societal problem. While the issue can seem extraordinarily much ballyhooed Toyota Prius. complex, small changes in the everyday patterns of Americans can have a large impact In Minneapolis, for instance, the Prius on the driving force behind climate change, carbon emissions. Carbon emissions come would have to comprise 12 percent of from obvious sources like large industrial operations and from less intensive but more the rolling fleet to equal the current widespread daily operations like the burning of gas to drive from place to place and to contribution of biking and walking. heat and cool our homes. While industrial practices represent a large share of emissions The actual market share of Prius today (28 percent), the decisions of individuals in the residential and personal transportation is less than one per of the new car sectors, taken cumulatively, represent a leading source of current emissions (42 percent) market. (EPA 2007). Small changes to daily routines and practices can add up to large changes in emissions. The transportation sector is particularly ripe for these small individual changes with large cumulative impacts. August 2007 Mainstreaming Transportation Choices: Taking Walking and Biking Seriously Rails-to-Trails Conservancy The transportation sector is a major source of U.S. carbon emissions. Transportation National Headquarters is responsible for one-third of U.S. CO2 emissions, and is the fastest growing major 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor source in the U.S. economy. Further, private automobiles are responsible for 62 percent Washington, DC 20037 tel 202.331.9696 of transportation-related CO2 emissions (EPA 2006). Given this context, non-pollut- fax 202.223.9257 ing forms of transportation such as biking and walking could represent an important strategy for reducing CO2 emissions. www.railstotrails.org a climate action plan in 1993 in which active transportation was given a central role. Portland has built more than 100 miles of trails and bike lanes just since 2001. This and earlier investments in infrastructure and programming have resulted in a quintupling of bike miles traveled over the last 15 years (City of Portland 2005). Portland is not alone in showing that commitment to active transporta- tion can have large impacts in reducing emissions. Minneapolis, one of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot While walking and biking provide a transportation load. Short trips under Project communities, has shown a clean and healthy source of community three miles represent nearly half of all consistent commitment to investing in transportation, increasing the share trips (FHWA 2006). The policy implica- active transportation infrastructure. A of trips taken by walking and biking tions of this trip breakdown could be recent study by the University of has received comparatively little atten- enormous: nearly half of all trips are Minnesota tracking the progress of the tion compared to improved auto fuel within a healthy and relatively easy 15- Pilot communities found that roughly efficiency and alternative fuels. While to 20-minute bike ride. While at present 20 percent of all trips in Minneapolis are improved fuel efficiency and alternative the preponderance of trips are taken by currently taken by walking and biking. fuels are a vital part of a comprehensive private automobile, many more of these When transit—which is accessed in transportation climate change strategy, trips can be converted to biking, walking Minneapolis by walking and biking 88 relentlessly rising vehicle miles traveled and transit with the right investments in percent of the time—is considered, the (VMT) have long been the driver of infrastructure and programs. figure jumps to nearly 28 percent. The increased emissions in the sector. VMT cases of Minneapolis and Portland show is forecast to grow by 59 percent by Active Transportation that when you build facilities for walking 2030 (Repogle 2007). Analysis from the Models: Portland and and biking, the community responds by Center for Clean Air Policy shows that Minneapolis using them for their transportation technological fixes alone cannot deliver Portland, Ore., and Minneapolis, Minn., needs. With targeted investment, active the 80 percent reduction in emissions are two examples that show how con- transportation can be a mainstream that scientists indicate are needed by certed investments in walking and biking component of a climate action strategy. 2050 (CCAP 2007). Managing travel infrastructure and programs that help demand by shifting trips to active modes provide real personal transportation Active Transportation: like walking and biking needs to become choices result in significant improve- A Mainstream Climate a central part of the national strategy to ments in walking and biking mode share. Strategy manage climate change. Portland’s investment in active trans- Recent studies have shown that making A travel demand strategy centered portation infrastructure is paying off in communities more bike/pedestrian- on walking, biking and transit has the increased walking and biking. Portland friendly can make a significant contribu- potential to carry a significant part of the was the first U.S. government to adopt tion to overall greenhouse gas emissions A crosssection of commuting in Arlington, Va., with subway, freeway traffic and trail travel. © LORILI TOTH / RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY by driving down VMT. Overall, creating Works Cited bicycle/pedestrian-friendly communities CCAP. 2007. Linking Green-TEA and Cli- can result in between a five to 15 percent mate Policy. Presentation by Steve Winkel- reduction in overall VMT in a commu- man of Center of Clean Air Policy February nity (Litman 2007). These figures can be 26, 2007. www.ccap.org/transportation/ even higher in close proximity to bike/ documents/LinkingGreen-TEAandClimate- PolicyCCAP3-12-07.pdf . Last accessed pedestrian facilities with local reductions June 28, 2007. of 20 to 30 percent (CCAP 2007). To put the overall numbers in City of Portland. 2005. A Progress Report context, consider that the much bally- on the City of Portland and Multnomah County Local Action Plan on Global Warm- hooed Toyota Prius would have to ing. www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/ comprise 12 percent of the rolling fleet image.cfm?id=112118 . Last accessed June to equal the current contribution of 28, 2007. biking and walking in Minneapolis under status quo conditions. The actual Dill, J., and T. Carr. 2003. Bicycle Com- muting and Facilities in Major U.S. Cities: market share of Prius today is less than If You Build Them, Commuters Will Use one percent of the new car market. Them. Transportation Research Record: Walking and biking are mainstream Journal of the Transportation Research components of a strong climate change Bicycling is encouraged in Portland, Ore., where Board. No. 1828: 116-123. management strategy today. With the city trams are equipped with bike racks. © BArbARA RICHEY / RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY EPA. 2006.Greenhouse Gas Emissions from increased investment, the potential for the U.S. Transportation Sector: 1990-2003. this clean and healthy transportation www.epa.gov/oms/climate/420r06003.pdf. mode to help decrease carbon emissions variety of modes. Studies show that Last accessed June 28, 2007. can be significant. sprawl, more so than income or EPA. 2007. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse • In 2003, 27 percent of the green- population, has a significant Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2005. house gas emissions in the United influence on vehicle miles traveled, www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ States were from the transportation and therefore carbon emissions downloads06/07CR.pdf . Last accessed June sector. Almost two thirds of trans- (CCAP 2007). 28, 2007. portation emissions (62 percent) are • Five to 15 percent fewer vehicle FHWA. 2006. Federal Highway Adminis- from personal transport, such as miles are traveled in “communities tration University Course on Bicycle and passenger cars, light duty trucks and with good walking and cycling motorcycles (EPA 2006). conditions than in more automobile- Pedestrian Transportation: Student Work- • Transportation continues to be the dependent areas” (Litman 2007). book (second edition). Report No. HRT- 05-133. fastest-growing source of greenhouse • In typical U.S. cities with more than gas emissions in the United
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