26 - Friday, May 15, 1992 - North Shore News YGU READERS are fortunate. When a column gets too gloomy, obtuse, or otherwise unpalatable, you get to put Experiment with transportation alternatives the paper down and walk away. Not so for the writer — natural law dictates that I'm forced to zead what I’m putting down on paper. As a result, I’'ra being faced with the preponderance of anti- auto facts that I’ve mentioned in this column a number of times over the past month, and left wrestling with the question of what I’m prepared to do to help rectify the situation. As individual! drivers, our con- tribution to air pollution and global warming is significant: vehicles produce about 500 kg of carbor dioxide each year. In total, Lower Mainland autos cough out 13,500 tonnes of CO2 annually, an amount that would require 200,000 hectares of forest, or 500 Stanley Parks, to absorb. The Fraser Valley has the se- cond worst concentration of ground-level ozone in Canada, responsible for an estimated $8.8 million worth of crop damage and a toll on human health that in- cludes a reduced immunity to colds and pneumonia. So what are we doing about it? While 66% of the trips taken each day in the Lower Mainland are still by people driving alone, there are changes happening. Simon Fraser University has formed almost 100 carpools with the help of North Vancouver’s STW Communications “‘EasyRider’’ carpooling software. Vanpooling facilities are now being offered by the Jack Bell Thirty pr Peggy Trendeu-Whittaker iNFO Foundation, and the bike lockers recently made available at three Park and Ride locations by B.C. Transit and the B.C. Bicycling Association have already come close to reaching capacity. And a number of people from various companies have completed B.C. Transit’s ETA (Employee Transportation Administrator) training course (info: 264-5235). During the program, people learn how best to plan and im- plement methods for reducing their company’s contribution to air pollution through the vehicular exhaust of their commuting employees. It’s not just a matter of taking cent of Canadian students drop out of | school, limiting forever their career opportunities. By year 2000, it is expected that more than 60% of all new jobs will need high school graduation or better. All North Shore students and parents are ~ invited to attend “Career Night 92”. This ‘exhibition is designed to provide informztion about education, career options and employment opportunities. Experts froma variety of professions will be on hand to answer any questions about their particular field. As well, exhibitors will provide an exciting “marketplace” of information. North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce —_ ON oo 7) STAY IN SCHOOL the bus to work, although that’s one solution. It’s studying the best way to structure company car- pools or vanpools, researching the needs of people who jog or bike to work, and considering stagger- ing shifts so people don’t find themselves driving to work during peak rush hours, when average car speed is greatly reduced and emis- sions increase. The ETA course can also help managers plan a_ successful telecommunicating pilot project that has appropriate employees working from home or from a base closer to their home instead of at 2 central facility that may be a long daily commute. But none of these programs — high-occupancy vehicle lanes on busy highways, employee incentive programs, subsidized vanpcols — will have any effect whatsoever if individuais aren’t willing to make some fundamental changes to their transportation habits. Which brings me back to my own ponderings regarding the use of my trusty Honda. Every time my insurance comes due, I think: is this really neces- sary? OF course, it’s easy to do some heavy-duty thinking at ICBC time; last fall I paid around $800 for six months of business- use insurance on my car, and if getting very environmentally con- scious will keep that money in my own bank account, then maybe it’s time to go green. While I have decreased my car use as a result of working largely from home and living within walking distance of shopping and library facilities, there’s miore I SUNDAY + WEDNESDAY - 6RIDAY could be doing. B.C. Transit is offering a one-week ‘‘EnviroPass’’ that will allow people to leave their cars at home during Environment Week (June 1 io 7) and try out the tran- sit system without committing themselves to a full-month farecard. The cost of the EnviroPass is equal to 10 rush-hour bus trips per week. A one-zone pass is $13.50, two-zone is $20 and a three-zone pass is $27.50. I've decided io take them up on their challenge and leave my car at home that week — at least from Monday to Friday. I’m not pro- mising anything on that weekend, as that’s the day the North Shore Recycling Program is holding its Mixed Paper Recycling Fair and something tells me there will be a fot of high-speed running around to do. But completely forsaking my car for at least five days out of seven isn’t a bad start, and I en- courage you to experiment with transportation alternatives as well during Environment Week. For B.C. Transit bus scheduling information, call 261-5100, er, for West Yan buses, call 985- 7777. If you have questions about biking to work, the Bicycling Association of B.C. may be able to help you (737-3034). If you’re like rae, you'll proba- bly derive the most inspiration from the following statistic: decreasing automobile travel by just 10% in the Lower Mainland would be more beneficial to air quality than closing down all local industry. How hard can it be to con- tribute your 10%? 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