ISLANDS editors go green(er)

From left: Adrienne (biked in one day so far), Eddy (hitched ride with wife all week), Ashley (carpools with her husband), Matthew (biked in two days so far). Photo by Lori (feeling peer pressure).

Last Friday, I pledged to come to work by some other method than driving my own car at least one day this week. I rode my bike in Monday and again today. It was painless. These fall days have been pleasant. It’s true riding a bike in Orlando is a bit of a dog fight, especially at rush hour. There are no bikes lanes to speak of, and drivers aren’t particularly mindful of bikes on the road, so you have to be extra mindful of them, especially crossing the higher-speed highways. And you have to breathe some exhaust. You’re breathing it in your car, but there it doesn’t seem as immediate. But the commute feels more like adventure and less like chore.

And I saved gas! Associate editor Adrienne also rode her bike in today. She’d been meaning to ride in sometime anyway, she said, but she took this opportunity. And Eddy in Chief says he was inspired to carpool with his wife. Research editor Ashley gets a ride every day. Between us we probably saved at least five gallons of gas this week. According to the EPA that means we kept 97 pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere (the carbon released from the burning gas combines with oxygen in the air to make CO2). That’s a pretty big drop even if it’s a gigantic bucket. And you have to save the first five gallons before you can save five million.

What’s the connection with islands? Islands may be some of the first areas affected by climate change. However, I don’t believe beloved but vulnerable island coastlines are a better reason to reduce consumption of fossils fuels than any of the other good reasons. It’s a clear reason that’s close to our hearts here, but cutting down on local pollution, congestion and noise, and getting exercise (or spending more time with loved ones) while commuting might be even better. The simple point is we live (and travel) in our environment and should take care of it. That’s rational and also pretty obvious, but we’re a little more insulated from that inside a car, especially if we’re in there alone.

I’m going to keep riding in when I can. The second time was easier than the first. Eventually it’ll seem easier than driving. It’s already more fun.

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