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A Greener Ride to Tahoe

With layers of fresh snow piling up on the Tahoe slopes and lifts opening left and right, anxious Cal skiers and snowboarders are finding themselves in need of an inexpensive and eco-friendly means of transportation. Zimride, a Berkeley-run program, provides a solution for these powder-hungry students.

At zimride.berkeley.edu students who login with a CalNet ID will discover a fun and easy way to share the seats in their car or catch a ride. With Zimride, you can find Cal friends, classmates, and coworkers going the same way you are.

So visit the site to find a Green carpool that will also leave you with more green in your pocket!

Image: squaw.com

 

5 Tips for Biking During the Winter



 

The weather is getting even chillier now and pedaling during this cold season is a bit more challenging for everyone. However, this definitely doesn’t mean that you should stop riding your bike! Here are 5 easy tips to help you ride more safely, smoothly, and comfortably during this time of year.

1. Use lights and reflectors when you’re biking since it gets dark earlier now and you will want to be seen at all times on the road. If you can get lights with blinking modes, that’s even better because they're more noticable.
2. Wear gloves when you’re biking in cooler temperatures to keep your hands from getting numb.
3. Wear ear protection when you’re biking to keep your ears warm under the protective helmet and gear you already have on.
4. Wear a neck gaiter, a fleece-like round piece of fabric that covers the neck to prevent it from being cold.
5. Wear layers of clothing when you’re biking because it’s essential in keeping the core warm.

Making just a few adjustments and following these 5 easy tips during the cold weather season will definitely help make riding a lot more comfortable this winter.

Source: Mother Nature Network

Green Bike Buying

Many students and faculty here at UC Berkeley have gone the green route and purchased a bicycle to navigate our 1,232 acre campus. The decision to buy a bike in itself is very much a green decision, but what people might not know is that this ecologically friendly decision can be even more green with just a little forethought. Here are some tidbits to keep in mind when you think about buying a bike:

• Carbon fiber frames are less durable and made through an energy-intensive process that produces toxic wastes
• Making frames of metals is also energy intensive, but metals tend to be more durable and thus last longer 
• Most metal frames are recyclable
• Purchasing a locally manufactured bike cuts down on the ecological costs associated with shipping
• Most types of bike accessories, such as water bottles, chain lubricant and handlebar tape, have environmentally friendly versions you can purchase instead
• Do-it-yourself repairs save you money and save your bike from the landfill

For more in depth bike tips visit National Geographic's Bike Buying Guide. 

 

Image source: National Geographic's greenguide.com

Cyclists Explore New Routes With iPhone’s GPS App

 
Cyclists are now able to discover new routes for pedaling from place to place by using the new Bike There feature from Google Maps on their iPhones. The new and free app turns iPhones into a cyclist’s version of a GPS navigator. The app shows the best bike-friendly routes to get from here to there, and displays a map for cyclists to check during their journey. It not only keeps cyclists on bike paths, but it also shows them short-cuts that can trim time off their rides. The app also includes other features like a “bike shop finder” and a listing of bike-friendly events.

To learn more about the new iPhone app and its features, visit Treehugger.

Biodegradable Flipflops?!

 

We know you love your flip-flops.  Why, many of you probably have them on right now.  Going to class?  Grab the flips.  And despite what your mother says, they do look quite good with that formal dress. Rain or shine, hot or cold, you'll be hard-pressed not to find a score of people sporting flip-flops on campus. Students at Cal go through flip-flops quite frequently. A great way to go green and be comfortable is to wear biodegredable flip-flops.

Read more.

Source:  "Green Fashion Monday: Biodegradable Flip-Flops" The Sierra Club: The Greener Life. April 19, 2010.  Image Source: Sierra Club: The Green Life  

Map Your Bike Route with Google Maps!

 

Do you bike for fitness?  Or maybe for commuting? Google Maps has recently added a biking route feature.  Bike data has been added for 100s of cities. It will even help you choose a route that avoids steep hills. It's very cool. 

Use Google Maps to:

1. Get turn by turn biking directions

2. See trails and bike lanes directly on the map

3. Drag and drop points to customize your route

Check it out: Google Bike Routes.

Green Your Break

 

 

Got spring break plans which require you to travel? Here are a few tips to have fun and be green while traveling.

1. Avoid flight travel when possible and try to take a non-stop flight. Multiple layovers increases your carbon footprint.
2. If flying is neccesary, consider buying carbon offsets to compensate for the travel. Find out more here.
3. If you plan on going on a road trip, consider renting a hybrid and leaving your less fuel efficient car at home.

Have a great spring break. Stay safe and have fun!

Sources:“Green Your Spring Break: Carbon-Neutral Travel”. Sierra Club: The Green Life. March 1, 2010. “Buy Carbon Offsets to Neutralize Your Air Travel”. Wellsphere. June 3, 2009.

Zimride Offers an Easy Way to Carpool with the UCB Community

Cal’s Zimride community is a simple way to find friends and colleagues who are going the same way you are. Zimride makes it easy to share the seats in your car or catch a ride.

It's simple. Have a car? Split the costs by driving fellow UC Berkeley community members. Don't have a car? Find a ride where you need to go. You save money, protect the environment and get preferred parking!

 

Membership is free. All Cal staff and faculty with a campus email address are eligible to sign-up for our private Zimride Rideshare Community here: http://zimride.berkeley.edu

High-Speed Rail Symposium at UC Berkeley

 

With the passage of Proposition 1A in November 2008, Californians approved the biggest transportation infrastructure project in the U.S. since the completion of the interstate highway system. At this evening symposium, six distinguished UC Berkeley faculty go beyond the polarized pre-election debate to shed light on the complex issues that will impact the success of this mega-project.

When: Tuesday, October 6, 5-8pm

Where: Alumni House, UC Berkeley

The Faculty: Robert Cervero (Professor of City and Regional Planning)
                   Carlos Daganzo (Robert Horonjeff Professor of Civil Engineering)
                   Elizabeth Deakin (Professor of City and Regional Planning)
                   Mark Hansen (Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
                   Arpad Horvath (Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Moderated by Samer Madanat, Xenel Professor of Engineering and Director of the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies

The symposium is free but RSVP by sending an email to hsr@its.berkeley.edu is required to reserve your spot.

Hitchin' a ride!

 

Want to hit the slopes this season but don't have a car? Fret not! Online carpooling companies have made it easy to go just about anywhere and are connecting people everywhere.

 

Carpooling is a win-win-win.  It benefits you, your ride partner(s) and the environment.  Sharing rides cuts down on the cost of gas, parking, and tolls (more money in your pocket!), alleviates traffic congestion (less road rage!), allows you to ride in the High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (open road!) it also reduces the amount of carbon emissions in the air (a healthier environment!). And hey, you may even make a new friend.

 

Start sharing with one of these carpooling networks...

 

Pick Up Pal

Craigslist 

Zimride

GoLoco

iCarpool

eRideShare  

 

 

Check out even more reason to share your ride from iCarpool.

 

And don't forget to buckle up!