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Transport On these pages we'll show you ways to make your transport more sustainable! Are you well informed on the impact of your transportation decisions? Begin your education with the transport issues pages put out by the Victorian Transport Policy Institute. Take action now! Victorian Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative and practical solutions to transportation problems. They have a great links page. ThinkingTransport website has been designed as a toolkit for integrated transport planning, policy and activities for local governments throughout Victoria Metropolitan Transport Forum The MTF endeavours to promote effective, efficient and equitable transport in metropolitan Melbourne by providing a forum for debate, research and policy development, and by disseminating information to improve transport choices. Federal government - Department of Transport and Regional Services     Walk Ride a Bike Use Public Transport Hybrid Cars Electric Cars Bio Fuel Cars Compressed Air Cars Carbon Offset Green Car Loans Walk Walking, the traditional way humans got around. It's good for the environment and good for your health.   Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's Walk Against Want Adelaide's Reclaim the Streets (an annual event in all States, in which pedestrians take back the streets from cars) Top Ride a bike Cycling is often faster than a car for trips under 10 kilometres. It has the added advantages of keeping you fit, not producing pollutants, and taking up less space. If cyclists were provided with a similar quality transport infrastructure to cars, cycling could even compete with cars over longer distances. Some people claim they don't have time to ride a bike. However, if you calculate how much of your working week is dedicated to paying off your car, you may in fact be working two days a week just to make those repayments. Adrian: 'From my home in Warrandyte, it takes me two hours to cycle to the city using bike paths from Westerfolds Park in Templestowe to Dwight's Falls, and roads for the rest. If I travel by road all the way, I can cut 30-50 minutes off that time because of the ability to maintain a more constant, higher average speed, a more direct route, a better surface, and more slipstreaming.' 'If I was able to ride on the freeway, I could cut even more time off. I'd feel comfortable using a racing bike, improving my time further. More than likely, in peak hour I'd beat cars into the city.' Not everyone is willing to commute to the city from the outer suburbs. But owning a bike, using a bike for any distance at all, does make a difference.   Greenspeed Trikes - great Australian trikes for a variety of uses and needs The Bicycle Federation of Australia national peak body. You Local Bicycle Organisation except for Bicycle Victoria who seems not a member of the national peak body. Critical Mass - a non-organised monthly gathering of cyclists on the last Friday of each month, held around the world to encourage cycle-friendly transport systems Bicycling Life - handy hints for new and experienced cyclists, including repair guides 'How not to get hit by cars' - good basic info for left side riders, Michael Bluejay's original version was based on riding on the right hand side of the road Aero Rider - fully enclosed tricycle with 1/10th the drag of a normal bike and an electric motor assist for hills And for those who are a bit more inclined to the adventuresome side of cycling you can try the World Naked Bike Ride Top Public Transport Anyone who has been on the London Underground knows how a public transport system should be - services so frequent you don't even look at a time table when going to catch a train. Money invested in public transport system help reduce traffic congestion, cost of our road systems including deaths and injuries and reduces pollution and energy use. One of Ventura Bus' 3 ethanol buses in eastern Melbourne There is even a political party, Public Transport First, that runs on public transport issues.     Public Transport Users Association - a vocal group campaigning for public transport Ventura Bus line Every Trip Counts - education about public transport Vic Trip - info on catching public transport in Victoria Top Rail Road Hybrid Use of rail lines to decrease roll resistance and increase fuel efficiencies is the idea behind this . The Blade Runner a road rail hybrid The designers envision a daul vehicle that could be used for people or frieght transport.     The Blade Runner- check out their site for more information on this road rail hybrid. Top Hybrid Cars Futureenergy.org considers the world to have moved forward a step, now that two global car manufacturers have hybrid petrol-electric cars for sale in their showrooms. The Victorian State Government and some councils are starting to get behind the technology by purchasing these vehicles in an effort to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Shire of Yarra Ranges Toyota Prius hybrid. If these vehicles become popular, we'll see a growing market for even more efficient and environmentally friendly cars.   Toyota Prius hybrid Honda Civic hybrid Kookaburra comments on his 2004 Prius Top Electric Cars Depending on the source of electricity, electric cars have the potential to provide us with CO2-free transport options.   Sam three-wheeled electric-powered vehicle Sam facts Australian Sam supplier Other small electric cars Power Ped electric-powered scooters and golf carts Other electric bikes A great site EV Finder links to places you can buy electric vehicles EV World- an online mag with some good articles And just when you thought the oil peak would lead to a bicycle nirvana, we have The National Electric Drag Racing Association (USA). Instead of petrol heads, we now have amp heads. Does anything really ever change? Top Bio Fuel Cars Cars running on biofuels have the potential to emit zero CO2. They also emit less pollutants in general than cars running on fossil-based fuels. For example, biodiesel exhaust is far more healthy than fossil diesel (40-60% less soot and 100% less sulphur). Take a look at our Bio Power material for more information and links on biofuel.   This is a vegie oil car that was on display at the Moora Moora festival. Diesel cars can run on either biodiesel, a modified vegetable or animal oil, or pure vegie oil. The BE Bioenergy site has a comprehensive explanation of biodiesel and straight vegetable oil and their application to diesel engines. Ventura Bus runs three ethanol-fuelled buses, reducing pollution and CO2 emissions. The ethanol is made from sugar cane waste. Top Compressed Air Cars Cars running on compressed air can emit zero CO2 if the compressed air has been created using clean energy. The designers claim that the air released is cleaner than the air you are breathing in while driving. They claim to have a theoretical range of 200-300km with a max speed of 110km/hr, however the only results we found for an actual test showed a much more limited performance. The cars are been designed and built in France.   This is one of a range of models under development. Visit Moteur Developpment International, the developers of the compressed air car and check out the car. Top Carbon Offset If you need to drive a car that uses fossil fuels, perhaps you could consider becoming involved in some type of carbon offset program that involves planting trees. You could join an organisation like Green Fleet, or go and plant trees with your local "friends of" group. Top   Green Fleet is a not for profit organisation that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of transport, primarily through a carbon offset system where they plant 17 trees per year in the Murray Darling Basin to absorb about 4.3 tonnes of CO2. This costs $30 per annum (tax deductible). Friends of Groups listed at Vicnet Friends of Groups listed by Parks Victoria by region Friends of Groups associated with Melbourne Water Source: onemansopinion.org Alternatively you could just destroy your car and bury it in a place such as car henge, as this is the future for fossil fuel power motor vehicles. Green Car Loans Members and Education Credit Union (me&u) offers discounted car loans if you buy a small or secondhand car. They also offer to pay for the Green Fleet program for the life of the car loan.   me&u Go Green Car Loan also offer to pay for the Green Fleet program for the life of the car loan. Top
Last Updated: 23/9/04 by @1