Hans Noelder recounts his "worthy" drive:
18 April 2007 - Last night at an environmental lecture in Madison I met a sincere young man who is very concerned about global warming and “peak oil”. Although he opposes expansions in electrical transmission lines, he thinks improvements to the Verona Road/Beltline interchange are needed to reduce congestion. No doubt his contrasting attitudes toward highlines versus highways can be explained in part by his 40+40 mile commute to & from work every day via car. “It’s worth the drive” to take advantage of lower housing prices in one of Madison’s bedroom suburbs.
Today a couple at the preschool about 1/2 mile from my house told me that for four years they have been chauffeuring their children to the Village of Oregon from their city about 14 miles away. I asked why they did not take their kids to a nearby preschool. They replied they were not satisfied with the quality – “It’s worth the drive” to bring them here.
This weekend my sister and I will drive a total of 360 miles to visit our 90-year-old dad at his assisted living center. In the process we will generate approximately 257 pounds of CO2. Our presence on local, State, and Federal highways will confirm assertions from local, State, and Federal officials that these highways must be maintained and expanded to “meet demand”. We will say, “It’s worth the drive” to see our Dad.
But clearly all of our driving in the United States IS NOT “worth the drive”! The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that climate change is real; that mankind is causing it; that current trends will make Earth a far less habitable Habit for Humanity; and that automobiles are a leading emitter of greenhouse gasses.
So if we are truly serious about climate change – and wars for oil, for that matter – we must begin to DENY ourselves these “worthy” drives. Where to begin? Densifying our communities, establishing mass transportation, and reconfiguring our lifestyles to match will take time, but meanwhile we can start with entirely discretionary travel – i.e. for recreation, amusement, and extracurricular activities.
“It’s NOT worth the drive to go up north to relax and play. Let’s find things to do nearby instead – activities that don’t take any gasoline!”
“It’s NOT worth the drive to go to a restaurant somewhere else. Let’s WALK to one of our local eateries – and visit with neighbors out for a stroll on our way!”
“It’s NOT worth the drive for our son to drive to high school; he can walk or bike or take the bus – and that includes extracurricular activities too. Living in the country has consequences, and because we chose a house here, we’ll help him to find creative activities here as well. Let’s start by setting an example ourselves!”
If we forgo the discretionary motoring, then maybe planet Earth can “afford” our occasional drives to visit Dad. Even better, after we’ve convinced our political leaders to REALLY support public transit, let’s get on board instead!
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