Go Green and Save Manchester!

Today there are more than 33 million cars in the UK and that’s not including the millions of vans, motorbikes and scooters around too.

Unfortunately scientists haven’t yet worked out how to run cars petrol free or on water - instead they’re spending their time changing the sexuality of flies or making beer holding bras! So at this rate we might have to wait a lifetime before we see our new eco-friendly vehicles.

Even if it is a lifetime, we should still not ignore the problem of cars and the effects they are having in society and on the environment. There’s lots we can do to save the planet while we wait for our water-powered motors.

The first would be to consider reducing the amount of times you use the car out on the road. Next time you’re just about to drive the 0.1 mile to the corner shop, just stop and think whether you could walk it instead. And, also think about the calories you would burn off making that little walk together with the fumes you would save the planet from…

Did you know that nearly a third of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions come from transport, and it is the only sector in which those emissions are growing?

CAR SHARING
A lot of us do actually need to use our cars on a daily basis and that’s usually down to bad public transport links. However, even here we can be finding ways to use the car less, save money and still get to where we’re going on time.

More than 80% of people who drive to work do so on their own, yet many live in the same town or area. Think about it – two colleagues who both live within a mile from each other but use their own cars for the thirty mile drive – madness! A simple partnership of car-sharing could be the key to half the road emissions and congestion times while saving money and even making friends.

If for any reason car sharing isn’t an option for you then you can still use your car and be kinder on the planet through greener driving.

GREENER DRIVING
The way you drive and handle your car can also affect the amount of fuel you use and the amount of emissions that your car produces. You can reduce these by:

Driving more smoothly
Shifting gears at the right time
Turning the engine off when waiting for someone
Driving at the right tyre pressures
Sticking to the speed limit
Removing unnecessary weight and roof racks
Using air-conditioning and other on-board electrical devices less to lessen fuel consumption
Next time you buy a car choose a make/model with a more fuel efficient engine

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Buses, metros and trains – these are all forms of public transport in Greater Manchester they are readily accessible for the majority of people. Unfortunately not every street has a bus stop and not every town has a metro or train station but for most of us a public transport link is only five or ten minutes away.

Using public transport isn’t always the most pleasant of experiences, especially during peak hours but this form of transport does have its plus points. The first is money. If you add up the petrol and parking tickets you buy each month and compare it to a monthly bus or train ticket you’re sure to be saving yourself a little bit of cash.

Think about the last time you were stuck in traffic – probably yesterday knowing Manchester city centre, bumper to bumper until you go to work? Well by using the train or metro there’s usually no congestion on the line, and you can sit back, read your book or paper, listen to your ipod or radio and take in Manchester’s unique scenery on the way into work.

On average 56 people will board a bus. On average two people will use a car. Do the math! Public transport isn’t for everyone but with the increasing cost of petrol, cars and car tax it certainly does provide an opportunity to save money and help save the planet. And soon Manchester could also be home to congestion charging, which would mean even more car travel costs – up to an extra £5 a day! Although, hopefully if congestion charging is introduced then more parts of Manchester will become home to Metro links and public transport will be better for everyone.

Don’t like buses and trains, then how about cycling to work each day? Ok, so it may not be very appealing in the winter months but we are approaching summer and cycling would offer a great free way to get to work, keep fit and even get a tan!

After the initial and one-off outlay to purchase your bicycle from around £60-£250 you could travel free to work everyday saving yourself hundreds or even thousands of pounds every year or summer! Of course, this option is only really available to people who don’t live too far away from work and yes it may take you a little longer in the morning but there’s lots of benefits that make it worth while. Benefits that not only improve your health and your pocket but also help improve your environment, your roads and your planet. So do something good this week and help save the planet by going green!