Embrace public transit and alternative methods of transportation to reduce emissions

For most Americans, driving a gas-powered vehicle is the single most carbon-intensive activity they regularly engage in every day. Reducing your usage of gas-powered vehicles, even if it’s just cutting out a single trip a week, can make a serious difference in your carbon footprint.

There are many ways that you can reduce your reliance on a car. Here are some of the top ideas:

• Try ridesharing: Ridesharing is a cost-effective way to utilize someone else’s vehicle to get from one place to another. Silicon Valley Hopper offers low-cost and convenient rides around Cupertino and Southern Santa Clara—try it today!

• Combine proximate trips or carpool: Try to consolidate your usage of a car to cover multiple trips in one. Even better, consider doing this with other people by carpooling to work, school, etc.

• Work from home: If your job allows it, working from home can eliminate your commute altogether!

• Minimize air travel: Despite its convenience, travel by plane is a major contributor to global emissions. What’s more, while you can choose to travel via an electric vehicle on land, there is not yet a viable electric passenger plane available at scale. This means that reducing your air travel as much as possible is crucial to tackling your carbon footprint effectively.

• Leverage public transit: The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is the official public transit provider in Cupertino and services an extensive network of buses and shuttles to help you get to where you need to go. What’s more, VTA is actively decarbonizing their fleet by switching to battery-electric buses which are significantly more environmentally friendly.

• Get active: “Active transportation” is the term for travel by walking, biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, or even unicycling! This mode of transportation is a great way to get some exercise while simultaneously reducing your carbon footprint.