NEW NAME. SAME MISSION.
formerly "Drawdown Bay Area"
Transportation
The three biggest contributors to climate change right here in the Bay Area are from our buildings, the energy we use for transportation, and from our food & food waste.
"Zero Emission Transportation" isn't just electric vehicles! It includes all of the ways we get around, including our feet, bicycles, and public transit (trains, ferries, buses). We're all making changes, as we rethink how we get around, and driving smarter and driving less makes more sense these days.
You decide what works best for you but, by all means, let's reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
41%
How we get around and how we move our "stuff" contributes of our regional greenhouse gases.
The good news is that the solutions already exist. Here are just a few to get started:
FIRST, WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW:
If your destination is close, consider walking or biking. Use an e-bike that replaces a gas car for commuting or running errands, and you'll spare the air and get healthier, too.
If you use ride sharing apps, request an EV next time.
MAKE CHANGES TO HOW YOU GET AROUND
Smog.
Cars are convenient but any vehicle that uses gasoline or diesel adds a lot of pollution to the air we breathe. Most of car trips are relatively local, and small changes can add up.
Consider these alternatives:
If you can take public transit and carpool more, that's great. While public transit options don't work for everyone, the Bay Area does have multiple ways to get around. Besides BART, CalTrain, and the SMART train, there are ferries and 19 bus systems in the Bay Area.
Learn more about your transit options at Traveler Services and 511.org.
If you're traveling, learn what the projected emissions are from your flight, then use carbon offsets. It's a good way to help protect the planet from the unavoidable emissions from jet engines. Check out these preflight tips before you check in for your next flight.
If we all make these small changes we can put a dent in our transportation emissions
As you start taking these small steps, PLEDGE to make your next wheels ELECTRIC
This, not that.
Whether new or used, purchased or leased, now is the time to explore the many choices and commit to making your next purchase an EV. Then learn more below about the makes and models, cost and rebates, charging - everything you need to make an informed decision.
NEXT:
ASK YOUR EMPLOYER TO OFFER COMMUTE INCENTIVES
Transportation is the Bay Area's greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions and commuting for work creates traffic congestion and often gridlock.
Many employers offer incentives if you drive less, including pre-tax benefits, transit subsidies, shuttles & van pools, carpooling, and telework. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) requires employers with 50 or more employees to offer commuter benefits. Visit Commuter Benefits Program.
EMPLOYERS can help reduce vehicle trips by offering commuter options to employees, which may improve morale and reduce turnover. Join over 2,000 companies around the Bay. Visit BAAQMD and 511.org for additional details and enroll your company in the Spare the Air Employer Program.
AND THEN:
DUMP THE PUMP!
you'll never have to stop at a gas station again (unless you want snacks)
Ride & Drive Clean is the trusted resource in the Bay Area for everything you need to know about driving electric: cars, trucks, and e-bikes.
New, used, or leased, two wheels or four, they've done the hard work so you don't have to: all of their guides are in one place.
Next, watch these "Myth Buster" videos:
VARIETY
There are EVs to fit every budget and lifestyle: from 2-seaters to SUVs, from mini-vans to trucks - new, used, and leased. There are more alternatives to gas cars than ever. Virtually every auto manufacturer has committed to making EVs across all of their lines, and there are over 70 models available right now.
AFFORDABILITY
Putting gas in a car can cost 2-5 times more than the equivalent cost of the electricity to charge an EV. With very few moving parts, EVs are much cheaper to maintain - 40% less expensive! No belts to replace, spark plugs to change, or oil to top up. The Federal, State, and dealer incentives and rebates make them even less expensive than the sticker on the window.
CHARGING* with Clean Electricity
*contact your local energy agency - they all offer programs:
MCE Clean Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, East Bay Community Energy, Clean Power SF, Peninsula Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, San Jose Clean Energy
