Oxford is my world Your – Guide to saving the planet!

Recycling

Travel
Cycling

Water Use

Climate Science Explanation

TRAVEL

All forms of motorised transport involve the emission of greenhouse gases – flying creates the most emissions per traveller followed by car use. Travelling by car creates 43% more emissions per person per kilometre than travelling by bus, and journeys under 500 miles by plane generate 275% more emissions per person per kilometre than those made by train.

Flying is also bad news for the environment as greenhouse gases which are emitted high in the atmosphere have 2.5 to 3 times the impact on global warming than those emitted on the ground.

Cycling and walking are the most environmentally friendly means of transport, as they involve no greenhouse gas emissions and they have a health and fitness benefit!

Very Easy

- Drive with style: keep your distance and minimise the amount of breaking and accelerating you have to do. This is a much more efficient way of driving, in fact it can save you about 13% of your fuel costs. For more information on efficient driving contact the Energy Saving Trust.
- Try using public transport, cycling or walking once a week, you may be surprised by the time and/or cost savings. If you can't use public transport or walk to work, why not ask your employer if you can work from home once a week.
- Pick up timetables and information on local public transport, as you and your household will be more likely to use buses and trains if you have up-to-date information close to hand.
- You can plan local journeys with Traveline South-East, they provide travel information over the phone and online and can help you find out how to complete all or part of your journey by bike.
- Local bus information is available on the Brookesbus, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach websites.
- Use the internet to plan journeys and compare journey times by different methods of transport: Transport Direct helps you plan local and national journeys and allows you to compare journey times and carbon emission by public transport versus by car.
- Fly less, travel more; try consulting The Man in Seat 61 website for information about travelling in the UK and abroad, by train, ship or other non-air travel means.
- Take the Eco-driving test on the Energy Saving Trust's website.
- Sustrans provide practical solutions to the UK's transport challenges, including the National Cycle Network, plus guidance and routes for those planning a long distance cycle or cycling holiday.
- If you need a taxi try Solocar - they operate a fleet of one passenger smartcars which have 15% lower emissions than regular taxis.

Fairly Easy

- Cyclox can help you get activated in more ways than one; they support cycling in Oxford, arrange cycle training and organise events to help inform the public about sustainable transport.
- Join a national lift-sharing network, register any journeys you make regularly on Liftshare and find other people who frequently do the same journey. You can ask for or offer lifts and share petrol costs.
- Use your car less: every journey under 3 miles that you decide not to use the car for will save about 2 kg CO2. Walk or cycle instead and it will improve your health and your waistline.
- Joining a car club will allow you to use an efficient, fully maintained and insured car on a pay-as-you-go basis. Each car club vehicle is estimated to replace 5 to 11 private cars. Commonwheels and Streetcar both operate in Oxford.
- Get real time departure information for Oxford Bus Company and some Stagecoach buses is available on the Oxontime website or via the TIMES (84637) text messaging service.
- If you need to drive long distances or fly, for business or personal reasons, Climate Care's online carbon calculators show the impact of your car and flights. If you want to you can then pay to offset your emissions through them, as they fund green energy projects around the world.
- Get your employer to sign up to a scheme like the Cycle Scheme and you and your work colleagues could get tax free bikes, saving you up to 40% of the cost of a new (or reconditioned) bike. Alternatively ask your local bike shop whether they are part of the scheme; there are 9 registered bike shops in Oxford.
- If you're thinking of buying a new car, choose one with low emissions, as it will benefit both the local and global environments. Consult the Energy Saving Trust or the Environmental Transport Association for advice on buying an efficient car.
- For insider info on new car fuel consumption and exhaust emissions figures visit the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).
- If you care about the planet but can't avoid driving, get your insurance through the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), they campaign to help people reduce their dependence on cars and lorries and to create a sustainable transport system in Britain.
- You can arrange carbon offsetting as part of your holiday arrangement with travel agents such as Co-op Travel and Last Minute.com.
- Move goods in a greener way by listing your delivery on Shiply. They match consumers and businesses with transport providers who have capacity to spare - 25% of lorries on Britain's roads run empty - using this space to transport private goods saves CO2 and money.

Not Quite So Easy

- Active cyclists should get involved with Oxford's Critical Mass, they organise cycling rallies and events for like-minded folk.

- Or for a sedate view of the transport debate join the Oxford Pedestrians Association, they aim to make Oxford's streets safe and clutter free for all and encourage ‘carbon free’ travel.

- If you'd like to drive guilt free there is a way if you use carbon-neutral biodiesel, which is made either from processed rapeseed type oil or used cooking oil.
- If you already have a suitable diesel car there are a number of biodiesel suppliers in Oxfordshire such as Golden Fuels , which sources it's diesel from local waste vegetable oil, or visit the Biodiesel Filling Stations website for more suppliers and information on which cars are suitable for biodiesel.
- Converting your diesel car so it can run on pure vegetable oil reduces the carbon footprint of your car by 80%. Oxfordshire based company, Regenatec, can do these conversions. For more information about running your car on vegetable oil contact Veg Oil Motoring.
- Alternatively you can learn to make your own biodiesel on a Low Impact Living Initiative course.
- For information on dual fuel, electric and other alternative fuel vehicles contact the Energy Saving Trust.
- Set up a car club in your area; contact Commonwheels or visit www.carplus.org.uk for more information on car clubs.

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