What You Can Do
Transportation Tips
Ridesharing
To register an existing carpool, volunteer to start a new carpool, or sign up to be matched with carpools in the area contact OTO at (417) 831-RIDE (7433) or register online through the City of Springfield. The OTO Rideshare Program serves the counties of Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, Ozark, Polk, Stone, Taney, Webster, and Wright.
10 Simple Steps
- Trip chain more often. It's easy! Chances are, you're already doing it -- combining your errands into one trip. It helps you get things done and it helps reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. When you first start a car after it's been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine's warm.
- Take mass transit, share a ride, or car pool. Even if you do it just once or twice a week, you'll reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and save money. The average driver spends about 56 cents per mile including ownership and maintenance.
- Have fun! Ride your bike. It's a great way to travel and it can help you and the air get into condition. Vehicles on the road create more than 25% of all air pollution nationwide.
- Take things in stride. Walk or in-line skate instead of driving. They're easy ways to get exercise and they're easy on the air.
- Care for your car. Regular maintenance and tune-ups, changing the oil, and checking tire inflation can improve gas mileage, extend your car's life, and increase its resale value. It can also reduce traffic congestion due to preventable breakdowns and it could reduce your car's emissions by more than half.
- Get fuel when it's cool. Refueling during cooler periods of the day or in the evening can prevent gas fumes from heating up and creating ozone. And that can help reduce ozone alert days.
- Don't top off the tank. It releases gas fumes into the air, which cancels the benefits of the pump's anti-pollution devices. So, stopping short of a full tank keeps gas off of you, is safer, and reduces pollution.
- Telecommute. Work at home sometimes. You'll save time and money, and reduce emissions and traffic congestion.
- Reduce idling. Follow your companies idle reduction policy. Turn of your car and go into stores, fast food restaraunts, etc, instead of spending time idling in the drive-through.
- Spread the word. If everyone took just a few of these simple, easy steps, it could make a big difference because it all adds up to clean air.
Trip Chaining - Remember when you got your chores done all at once so you could go out and play? Trip chaining is the same idea - only you'll save the air in addition to saving time.
When you start your car after it's been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine's warm. That's why combining errands into one sensible trip is more effective and reduces air pollution. This means more time in your life, less traffic congestion and less pollution - which all adds up to cleaner air.
So make a list, plan your route and trip chain. You'll be saving a lot more than just time.
Maintaining Your Car - A poorly-maintained or malfunctioning car can release as much as 100 times the pollution of a well-maintained car. Keeping your car in top running condition saves money and means less traffic congestion due to breakdowns. Plus, keeping tires properly inflated can increase gas mileage.
You see, a well-maintained car releases a fraction of what a poorly-maintained or malfunctioning car emits. And, because vehicles on the road account for more than 25% of all air pollution nationwide, a little maintenance could go a long way to cleaner air.
Refueling in the Evening - In hot weather, gasoline vapors escape when you refuel your car's gas tank and, combined with sunshine and heat, create ozone, an air pollutant that is harmful to our lungs. By refueling during cooler periods of the day and in the evening, you can reduce ozone pollution.
Also, when you gas up, please don't top off the tank. It keeps gas from spilling on you, it's safer, and it helps keep the air clean.
Choose Alternate Modes of Transportation - Tomorrow, leave home without it. Your car that is. Just once or even twice a week, leave your car parked and get around another way. Try car pooling, taking mass transit, biking, or walking. You'll help reduce traffic congestion and pollution -- and save a lot of money and aggravation.
You may already be following this advice -- millions of Americans do every day -- but you probably don't realize that when you do, you're doing one of the things that add up to cleaner air! In fact, every time you share a ride, you're helping to reduce emissions by almost half. Taking mass transit can do just as much. And, of course, walking, biking, and in-line skating are the healthiest ways to travel -- for both you and the environment.
Household Tips
- Mow in the evening. The average gas-powered lawn mower emits as much air pollution in one hour as a car does driving 200 miles. Mowing your lawn in the evening will help reduce daily ground-level ozone formation. \
- Reduce emissions from gas-powered lawncare equipment. Purchase electric or manual reel mowers instead of gas-powered equipment. Use electric weedeaters or manual hedge clippers. If you need to use a gas-powered device, use four-cycle equipment instead of two-cycle. Four-cycle engines are much cleaner.
- Conserve electricity. Consider setting your thermostat a little higher in the summer and lower in winter. Participate in local energy conservation programs. Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office equipment.
- Consider using gas logs instead of wood. If you use a wood-burning stove or fireplace insert, make sure it meets EPA design specifications. Burn only dry, seasoned wood.