By Edmond Wu

As an environmentalist, I have always thought about the impact my everyday actions have on Earth. That is one huge reason that I got a trusty little Chevy Bolt a couple of years ago. But although this car is electric, not all the power that is generated for the car is renewable, which means that I’m still contributing to climate change. I have also realized that living in a modern society that prioritizes maximizing and optimizing consumption has influenced a lot of people to live a fast-paced and wasteful lifestyle. This year, one of my resolutions is to simply live a slower lifestyle that prioritizes health and conscientious consumption. One way to do this is simply to drive much less. 

Driving a car is very convenient, while taking public transit or riding a bike often will take twice–and sometimes three times–as long, especially in the US. While New York City is dense enough to have a working transit system that allows people to live without cars, Los Angeles was built for cars, with sprawling neighborhoods and many highways. But often it is this incessant need to save and maximize time that is our foremost rationale for using a car. One advantage of alternative transportation, besides saving money, is that it forces you to slow down in this illusionary race that we all run. You can enjoy the scenery while you walk or bike. You can read a book on the bus or train, and can even squeeze in a little bit of work if need be. 

Using alternate methods of transportation also adds value in other ways. When taking public transit, you’re supporting the infrastructure, and the marginal cost is almost zero. Riding a bike, jogging, or walking to our destinations provides the added benefit of exercise, which goes a long way toward fitting that element into our life without needing to schedule it. Waiting for a train or bus provides you time for reading or chatting with friends. Sitting on a train can also afford time to squeeze in some work before a meeting or to work on a side project. Or it can simply give you time to reminisce and reflect. We spend a lot of our modern time going from task to task, but the idle time of walking or sitting on a train allows us precious moments to just think about our lives and where we are going, allowing us time to prepare, revise, and just breathe. 

For 2025, I will walk, jog, bike, and use public transit as much as possible, both for the environment and for my physical and mental health. 

Ed has been with the Sierra Club for the past three years. He is an avid hiker, runner, and surfer who nerds out over renewable energy, conservation, and sustainability.