Green Corner: Traveling the green way

For students relying on cars to travel home on weekends, the ride can be quite a hassle. However, the price of gas, traffic delays and tolls aren’t the only costs of traveling by automobile. The surplus of cars on our roads is also largely taxing on the environment, with detrimental effects such as heightened air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, according to the American Public Transportation Association, private vehicles are the largest contributors to the household carbon footprint, responsible for more than half of yearly emissions. Luckily, public transportation options surrounding Rider University are abundant, letting students leave their cars in their parking spaces.
Moving between Lawrenceville and Princeton is an easy car-free task thanks to the campus shuttle. This bus service leaves daily from the Bart Luedeke Center, bringing students to and from Westminster Choir College, at no additional fee. The schedule, posted on the Rider website, is nicely coordinated to coincide with class meeting times, but can also be taken by students looking to spend time walking around town.
On Saturdays extra waypoints allow for fun times in the area, bringing Broncs to shopping centers and movie theaters, and making stops at the Princeton Junction Train Station. From there, New York City and Philadelphia are just a short ride away. Other nearby train stations include the Hamilton and Trenton stations, which are also a part of the New Jersey Transit system. By simply going on the NJ Transit website, students can access timetables to plan their trips, taking advantage of services which cover the entire Garden State.
Yet another available alternative to a private vehicle is the New Jersey Transit bus, which conveniently picks up riders along Lawrenceville Road, near the main entrance to campus. This route makes local stops in Lawrenceville, Princeton, Trenton and Hamilton at shopping centers and various other attractions. Much like the campus shuttle, this method of transportation can even take students to bus and train centers, allowing for transfer to more encompassing routes.
With so many public transportation options available locally, students can leave their cars behind while still being able to reach their destinations with ease. If all the shuttle stops, bus routes, and train rails don’t suit your needs, The Rideshare Company suggests that you can help to cut United States gas consumption by over 30 million gallons daily by teaming up and carpooling with another person heading to your destination. With just a little bit of preventative planning, making an environmentally conscious trip can be very simple. So starting this semester, be sure to check out alternative ways to reach your destination the green way.

-Lexi Reynolds
Lawrenceville Eco-rep

Printed in the 09/24/14 issue.