In the months of June and July the Urban Ambassadors have featured electric cars. But for those who might not have ability (right now) to buy the newest Tesla model, there are still many options in the Greater Des Moines area to green your transportation!
Get New Wheels by Buying Old Wheels
If you’re looking for a new car and want to go electric, consider looking at purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. Not only will these options be more affordable (you can find a used Nissan Leaf starting at around $11,000) but you’ll be preventing the resource use that creating an entirely new car requires.
Share a Ride
If purchasing a new vehicle isn’t in your immediate future, look at opportunities to carpool. Find a friend or two at work, school, or your other activities who are willing to share a ride. You’re all going to end up at the same place—might as well ride along together. Not only will you be reducing your carbon footprint by limiting the gas that you use on your ride, but your car will have less wear and tear, leading to a longer life for your car-friend, preventing resources from being used to create a new vehicle. If you can’t find a friend to ride along with, never fear—DART offers a RideShare program (https://www.ridedart.com/services/rideshare).
Share a Bigger Ride
Don’t think small in sharing your ride—remember that we have a great public transportation system in the area. DART offers transportation to many locations that could very likely include your office, your grocery store, or your favorite home away from home. Start planning your trip on DART today https://www.ridedart.com/mydart/trip-planner.
Think Two Wheels
Des Moines is an amazing place to see cyclist culture in action. Support social sustainability by keeping active and by biking to your favorite locations. Trails can lead you almost anywhere in the area (http://www.iowadot.gov/iowabikes/bikemap/home.html). If you don’t have a bike there are several opportunities in the Des Moines area for you to share a bike as well (https://desmoines.bcycle.com/).
Get Closer
It might not always be possible, but if you can, look at going to places where you can walk, rather than drive. Explore your neighborhood and find a new local hotspot instead of traveling across town. This can be a great way to get more in touch with your community and to learn about the amazing hidden treasures that can be found in your own backyard.
Remember Distance is OK
If you live farther away, remember that there are still ways for you to green your ride. DART offers an extensive Park & Ride system throughout the metro so you can simply park and then DART will take care of the rest! (https://www.ridedart.com/how-to-ride/park-and-ride) Best of all, you won’t have to worry about finding parking.
Whether you explore the community on two feet, two wheels, four wheels, or within a fleet of wheels, you have an opportunity to reduce your footprint and improve your own sustainable practices by greening your ride and by becoming a green transport ambassador.