Editorial: We can all help conserve energy

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Last Friday, more than one hundred bicyclists claimed the roads of Lawrence to protest human reliance on cars. The bike ride, dubbed “Critical Mass,” occurs in cities around the world on the last Friday of every month to celebrate alternative means of transportation and to demonstrate that transportation is possible without polluting the air.

Their point is well-taken. Now that global warming is more fact than theory, we should all take it upon ourselves to save a little energy. Turn light switches off when exiting a room. Use cold or warm, not hot, settings for the washing machine. Plant a tree! Or, take a cue from Critical Mass cyclists and find an alternative means of transportation. Approximately 20 pounds of harmful carbon dioxide are emitted in the atmosphere for every gallon of gasoline used, so saving even a gallon or two of gas per week can go a long way.

nutgraf

Plus, there really couldn’t be a nicer time to get around sans gasoline. Spring is here and new life is blossoming, erasing memories of cold winds and cracked skin.

Plus, there really couldn’t be a nicer time to get around sans gasoline. Spring is here and new life is blossoming, erasing memories of cold winds and cracked skin. The grass is green, the flowers have bloomed, and nests are filled with eggs. Time is really not of the essence. Students should forgo the car in order to meander and smell the roses. Biking and walking are both excellent ways to simultaneously be earth-friendly and physically fit. They’re also stress-relieving methods to refresh and invigorate the body.

For those far from their desired destinations, alternative methods of transportation are still possible. Use Lawrence’s public transportation, or arrange a car pool with friends or roommates. If looking for a new car, invest in an energy-efficient one. At the very least, appreciate America’s highly developed road systems which make off-roading unnecessary, and abstain from buying monster “all-terrain” vehicles.

All of us should take a lesson from Critical Mass, even those who loathe bike riding or who roll their eyes and mutter “damn hippies” while reading this article. Not only is it a good idea to take care of our planet, there really couldn’t be an easier time to be a little more energy-conscientious.

— Alison Kieler for the editorial board.

Geared for change

Subversive cyclists want a piece of the street and to change your ...

/news/2007/sep/27/geared_change/

Save the planet, save money — get ...

Students around in the summer are taking to cycling around campus. Here's ...

/news/2011/jun/16/save-planet-save-money-get-your-bike/

Biodiesel offers cheap alternative

Car owners can cut the cost of operating their vehicles by turning ...

/news/2009/jan/29/biodiesel/

Green methods of transportation save green in ...

Students and University organizations turn to bicycles and scooters to reduce the ...

/news/2008/jul/08/bike/

Gas can be small price to pay

/news/2005/sep/02/gas_can_be_small_price_pay/

Baby Steps

How five days without a car helped Jayplay writer Courtney Hagen realize ...

/news/2007/apr/12/baby_steps/

Hayes: Cyclists deserve more accommodations

Lack of racks, harsh punishments unfair to bikers

/news/2007/sep/24/hayes_cyclists_deserve_more_accommodations/

Discounts combat high fuel prices

/news/2005/mar/29/news_lawrence_prices/

Neubauer: Ban the bike (and cyclists too)

Personal experience influences writer's position on cycling.

/news/2009/apr/27/neubauer_ban_bike/

Campus police crack down on cyclists

Bike riders beware: KU Police is pulling campus cyclists over and ticketing ...

/news/2007/sep/19/campus_police_crack_down_cyclists/

Editorial: EcoKat may have won, but saving ...

The Take Charge Challenge may be over, but saving energy shouldn't end.

/news/2011/oct/31/editorial-ecokat-may-have-won-saving-energy-still-/

Stop signs befuddle cyclists

Bike riders on campus find themselves getting ticketed for not obeying stop ...

/news/2008/sep/12/bike_stop/

Loving: Don't blame big oil companies for ...

Gas prices rise because of events around the world, not because oil ...

/news/2012/feb/21/loving-dont-blame-big/

Committee works to make bicycling safer in ...

Possible grant money will expand Lawrence bike lane network, increase safety for ...

/news/2010/mar/26/committee-works-make/

Lawrence and Manhattan go green for competition

Challenge will foster environmental friendliness in Lawrence and Manhattan

/news/2010/nov/17/jayhawks-and-wildcats-go-green-competition/

The new Zarco offers cheaper fuel to ...

Ethanol is cheaper than gasoline

/news/2008/feb/12/new_zarco_offers_cheaper_fuel_lawrence/

Thompson: Poorly planned routes dangerous for cyclists

/news/2008/sep/08/thompson_poorly_planned_routes_dangerous_cyclists/

Mangiaracina: Are bicycles the same as all ...

/news/2008/sep/15/mangiaracina_are_bicycles_same_all_other_motor_veh/

Kieler: Environmental issues affect us today

The environment has been reduced to a political issue recently. It is ...

/news/2007/apr/19/kieler_ed/

Start Cycling Now! Or, In 30 Years

There's no late start in cycling, a sport you can perform with ...

/news/2012/mar/07/start-cycling/

Permit price increase positive for campus parking ...

/news/2005/apr/20/opinion_letters_permit/

Bikers take polo to the streets

The Lawrence bike polo team started out using makeshift equipment like ski ...

/news/2011/feb/24/students-take-bike-polo-streets/

Dusting off the gears

A tune-up and some springtime TLC will keep your hip ride rolling ...

/news/2008/feb/28/spring_tune/

Cyclists have same rights, responsibilites as other ...

/news/2005/sep/16/bicycle/

Editorial: A plea to Mother Nature

The weather roller coaster that is March has brought students to a ...

/news/2007/mar/09/edalison/

Biking to protest dirty fuel

Student members of Greenpeace will travel to Rep. Dennis Moore’s offices today ...

/news/2008/oct/29/bike/

Environmentally-friendly vehicles aid campus sustainability

Greener pastures, or at least greener air, have come to the University.

/news/2008/jan/18/hybrid/

A Bright Idea

Did you know that your appliances use energy even when they are ...

/news/2006/may/11/jp_abrightidea/

Students work on city plans

The University’s urban planning program is working with Lawrence and Wichita to ...

/news/2010/feb/10/students-help-improve-transportation-kansas-cities/

/comments/cr/33/7704/#c3052

Solar energy’s bright future in Kansas

Faculty and students are exploring new ways to embrace solar energy.

/news/2010/apr/01/solar-energys-bright-future-kansas/

City lines Ninth Street with new bike ...

Bike lanes create a link in the chain connecting Lawrence.

/news/2009/jul/14/bike_lanes/

Editorial: University should adopt bicycle commuter subsidy

Giving workers this subsidy would encourage green commuting.

/news/2009/mar/04/editorial_university/

Student groups team up for environment

From Blue to Green, a sustainability movement, will host events between now ...

/news/2009/apr/14/groups_environment/

Tour of Lawrence shows strength of biking ...

Hundreds come out over the weekend to watch and compete in three-day ...

/news/2009/jul/05/bike/

Car sharing grows popular on campuses

Zipcar relieves carbon emissions and parking congestion.

/news/2009/aug/25/zipcar/

Editorial: Vote to save public transit in ...

/news/2008/oct/26/public_transit/

Overworked students' dangerous race against time

Is too much work and too little time putting students' health at ...

/news/2011/apr/28/time-not-our-side/

Schwartz: Stay green on Spring Break

Easy tips for staying eco-friendly during vacation.

/news/2010/mar/05/schwartz-stay/

Reducing speed limit not big enough of ...

/news/2008/aug/26/Editorial_board/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID