Global Warming
When air pollution (smog) accumulates in the Earth's atmosphere, it heats up and causes the "greenhouse effect" which is responsible for the phenomenon commonly called global warming. Basically, our planet is becoming warmer little by little as a result of cumulative and larger amounts of smog in our environment.
1998 was the warmest year on record, and 7 of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred in the 1990s.*
Heating our homes, using air conditioners, and business operation all contribute to air pollution levels. Transportation accounts for about one third of the pollution responsible for global warming. Most people drive to work alone day after day after day, but we can choose to share rides in a number of ways, or we can find ways to use our cars less often.
* International Center For Technology Assessment
A Serious Threat?
Our planet, over millions of years, has experienced periods of both warming and cooling. Scientists debate whether or not recent trends in global warming are caused by our modern society.
Cars today are built to run cleaner than ever before. Gasoline is cleaner too, but the fact is that there are more cars on our roads than ever before. And because of "suburban sprawl," we are using our cars more often.
What Can We Do?
Change driving habits. Make grownups aware of how often they use the car alone. Talk with friends and family about air pollution and global warming and how personal choices really can make a difference.
If each adult shared a ride or cut back
on just a couple of trips each month, it would
significantly reduce the number of cars on the road and therefore it would cut back on the amount of pollution in our air. Sharing rides all the time may not be practical, but if you would share a ride just once a week—or a few times each month—and if we ALL made an effort to do this, it would greatly reduce the number of cars on the road and the amount of air pollution our cars are creating.
Carpool
Instead of four people riding separately in four cars, they share a ride in one car.
Vanpool
Seven people share the ride to work each day and split the expenses.
Bicycle
Instead of driving to the gym to exercise, go for a bike ride instead.
Walk
Leave the car home; get exercise while conserving fuel.
Train
Instead of being stuck in rush hour traffic, use the train time to read or relax.
Bus
Share the ride with as many as 40 other people to save energy.
Telecommute
Instead of driving to the office, work from home one day or more each week.
Monorail
Now being built at some airports to reduce heavy car traffic.
RIDEWORKS invites students to communicate alternatives to driving alone and how our driving habits impact the environment.
For entry rules call RIDEWORKS at 1-800-ALL-RIDE.
Entry Deadline: March 5, 2001
