More and more Americans are becoming aware of the high-cost of owning an automobile. From the cost of the car to maintenance, gas, insurance and all the rest, the average automobile driving American spends between $8,000 and $9,600 per year to get around.
Many of us have also been aware that our over-reliance on the automobile is responsible for 37 percent of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, and that Rhode Island -- as the state with the most coastline per capita -- will be on the front lines of dealing with its effects. But, until now, there have been few tools to help us understand the environmental cost that comes with our choice of where to live and how to get around.
Now a new online application -- Abogo -- allows users to see how transportation impacts the affordability and sustainability of where they live or where they might want to live. By going to the website and typing in an address, you can find out how much money an average household in a specific region or neighborhood spends getting around, including car ownership, car use, and transit use. It also tells you how much CO2 is generated by this car.
Once you've seen it all spelled out, you'll likely be looking for more ways to bring your costs down. Luckily, there's an app for that, too.
If you haven't discovered it yet, the RIPTA trip planner is an invaluable tool to help you get around Rhode Island by bus, which can be a boon both to your budget and the environment. If the bus doesn't work into your schedule, you can take control by starting or participating in a ride share program in your community by signing up on Commuter Resource RI.
Then, when you're done, forward the link to this page to a couple of friends. It's a small step toward helping more Rhode Islanders save money, cut down on pollution and avoid the worst effects of global warming.
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About the Coalition for Transportation ChoicesThe Coalition for Transportation Choices (CTC) calls for a 21st century transportation system that enhances our economy and provides all Rhode Islanders with healthy transportation choices. Visit our website to get more information about the Coalition for Transportation Choices or to find out how to become a member of the CTC.
Rhode Island's 21st century transportation system must provide all people - employees, tourists, youth, elderly, able and disabled - with safe and dependable access to their community's opportunities for work, education, services, and recreation. The system should be considerably less dependent on cars and fossil fuels as well as efficient, effective and easy to use. It should minimize impacts to land, water and air and improve the health and well-being of all Rhode Islanders. Such a system should be sustained with predictable and consistent funding for operation and future growth.
CTC's work is supported by the Rhode Island Foundation, The Prospect Hill Foundation and Third Sector New England's Capacity Building Fund.
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Election Day is Nov. 2
Find out what the candidates for governor have to say about transportation issues by visiting the following websites:
* Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition (scroll down to read statements from each of the candidates.)
* GrowSmartRI
* Environment Council of RI
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Coalition for Transportation Choices
Member Groups
* AARP
* Amalgamated Transit Union
* American Lung Association in RI
* Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living
* Audubon Society of Rhode Island
* Blueways Alliance
* Blackstone Valley Partnership
* Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
* Blueways Alliance
* Brown emPower
* Childhood Lead Action Project
* City-State, the Urban Design Lab at RISD
* Clean Water Action
* Conservation Law Foundation
* Cornish Associates
* DOT Watch
* East Coast Greenway Alliance
* Ecolect
* Environmental Justice League of RI
* Farm Fresh Rhode Island
* Goodwill Industries
* Grow Smart RI
* Head of the Bay Gateway
* LISC-RI
* Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
* Pawtucket Foundation
* Providence Foundation
* Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
* Recycle-A-Bike
* Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition
* RI Consulting Engineers (RICE)
* Rhode Island Student Climate Coalition
* RI Association of Railroad Passengers
* RI Interfaith Power and Light
* RI Land Trust Council
* RICOSH
* Save The Bay
* SEIU, District 1199
* Sierra Club
* U.S. Open Cycling
* Working Rhode Island
* Youth in Action
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