How green is your daily journey?

[HJ]

OK, so most reading this will have cycled to work but even so there will have been some environmental impact. I recently came across this handy travel footprint calculator, the results are interesting.

So how green is your daily journey?

 

[levad]

Interesting .....

7.6kg CO2 in the car.

439.9g CO2 on the bike.

but ... the widget makes no allowance for me eating when I go by car!

 

[gazmercer]

11.7km, 216g CO2

 

[Molecule Man]

Hmm, 300 g cycling, 393.6 g walking, how does that work?

 

[al78]

OK, so most reading this will have cycled to work but even so there will have been some environmental impact. I recently came across this handy travel footprint calculator, the results are interesting.

So how green is your daily journey?

"WALK & CYCLE - emissions assessed include: those produced during respiration (breathing)..."

Isn't breathing a common factor for everyone, not just walkers/cyclists?

"generated in obtaining the energy required to maintain basic metabolism.."

Again, a common factor for everybody. Could be argued that if weight loss occurs as a result of regular exercise then the energy required for basic metabolism is reduced (small people require less energy to move around than larger people).

"The main approach is to assess the percentage of EU emissions that are associated with food and beverage consumption..."

Yet again, everyone needs to eat, and does this take into account the increase in efficiency of the human body when undertaking a regular exercise regime, compared to sedentary people? In addition, it is mainly carbohydrates that are utilised for energy, in which the CO2 from the extra respiration is equivalent to that taken up by the crops.

 

[gaz]

427 g for cycling
4.6 kg for car

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

I score 276g of Co2 and I guess the same for the return journey - unless I get a puncture and have to walk.

1.5 kg if I get a lift in off a mate and another 625g if I got the bus back.

 

[junglegusset]

Hmm, 300 g cycling, 393.6 g walking, how does that work?

Probably because walking is less efficient than cycling. Surprised its not more of a difference.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Interesting .....

7.6kg CO2 in the car.

439.9g CO2 on the bike.

but ... the widget makes no allowance for me eating when I go by car!

I have never got a drive through take-away burger etc on a bicycle.

 

[HJ]

Yes it assumes that you don't expend any energy when travelling by car, but then most drivers don't expend much energy over metabolic base rate, unless it is to shout at cyclist

 

[HJ]

Hmm, 300 g cycling, 393.6 g walking, how does that work?

Cycling is more energetically efficient than walking, in fact it is the most energy efficient means of (human) transport...

 

[Matty]

Don't know, don't care, has nothing to do with my reasons for cycling (especially when commuting).

Sorry if that is a little Frank & Honest!

 

[HelenD123]

3kg by car
132.1g by bike
363g by bus

The bus result is interesting in comparison to the bike. I really must make the effort to leave the car at home.

 

[HJ]

Don't know, don't care, has nothing to do with my reasons for cycling (especially when commuting).

Sorry if that is a little Frank & Honest!

Your reasons for cycling are more a question for this thread...

 

[cyberknight]

Total CO2: 255 g

Cycle: 13.9 km



Total CO2: 2.8 kg

Car: 13.9 km

Average city-car petrol, Driver only