All nations want and need to get back to work, and soon, but there's going to have to be a lot of adjustments to how we actually do it. When we start to get back to normal after COVID-19, (thenewnormal anyway), there will likely be an extended period of time where we are all a little leery of shaking that first hand, giving that first hug, and certainly sitting next to someone on a subway or commuter bus that sneezes or coughs their way through the commute. Not to mention touching all those hard surfaces that we've been told to be wary of as we negotiate a moving vehicle and hang on for dear life.
It’s hard to know how long it will take to recover the ridership numbers when public transportation systems do start moving again, or even how reliable they will be as we get sporadic employee gaps as people self isolate with little warning, or what lingering effects this global pandemic will have on people in general.
我们预计，今年会有越来越多的人步行、骑摩托车和骑自行车，因为人们可能会在一段时间内不愿与陌生人密切接触。Since not all of us can afford aTesla or other EVs, or even justthe best fast home EV chargersto plug a swanky car into, let’s look at other more affordable yet coolways to get around town for that daily commute!
Cycling to work is one option
Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number approximately one billion worldwideand they are the principal means of transportation in many parts of the developing world.
Cycling is widely regarded as a very effective, efficient and environmentally low-impact mode of transportation and optimal for short to moderate distances.
Bicycles provide numerous benefits in comparison with motorized vehicles, including the sustained physical exercise involved in cycling, easier parking, increased maneuverability, and access to roads, bike paths and rural trails. Cycling also offers a reduced consumption of fossil fuels, reduced air and noise pollution, and reduced traffic congestion.
Bikes also lead to reduced financial costs to the user as well as to society at large, due to the negligible damage and wear they cause to roads and the smaller amount of road area they require. By fitting bike racks on the front of buses, transit agencies can also significantly increase the areas they can serve, although the public use of transit may not recover quickly after Covid-19, so its questionable how much tose will get used in the near future.
In addition though, cycling does provide a variety of potential health benefits. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that cycling can reduce the risk of cancers, heart disease, and diabetes that are prevalent in our sedentary lifestyles in North America. Cycling on stationary bikes have also been used as part of rehabilitation for lower limb injuries, particularly after hip surgery. Individuals who cycle regularly also reported mental health improvements, including less perceived stress and an increased feeling of vitality - which certainly would come in handy at the moment!
骑自行车的缺点包括自行车(三轮车或四轮车除外)需要由骑者来平衡，与机动车辆相比，在碰撞中降低的保护，通常更长的旅行时间(除了在人口稠密的地区)，易受天气条件的影响，运输乘客的困难，以及中等到长距离骑自行车需要一个基本的健康水平。If you're interested in commuting by bike all the same, a good selection ofbudget conscious bikes online can be found here.
Unless that is you upgrade to an e-bike… which gives some exercise while taking the strain out of it!
Are Ebikes legal?
Electric bike sales have exploded in recent years andprices onlineare really quite reasonable.There are 3 classes of E bike; class 2 and 3 bikes may cause you grief legally speaking, but class 1 E bikes generally don’t require licenses, don’t have many limitations as to their use (so far at least), and they are fairly affordable, starting somewhere around a thousand dollars.
As long as they are pedal-assist only (with no throttle) and have lower top speeds, most state and provincial laws consider e-bikes no different that standard pedal bikes. Read more about choosing the right E bike below.
电动滑板车合法吗?
Electric scooter laws in the US are evolving regularly, and so far they seem more stringent than with e-bikes.Laws will vary by state, but US federal law stipulates that electric scooters cannot be used on sidewalks. They can use bike lanes, and they are allowed on roadways that don’t have dedicated bike lanes as long as they have a top speed of 25 mph. There may be local or state legislation that further muddies the waters, so do some research about your local area before making a purchase.
Electric scooter laws in Canada are even more murky and varied. From our research, it seems that in general they are not allowed on sidewalks or bike lanes, but are allowed on paths and trails. That may cause commuting challenges unless you have a designated bike path you can use from your home to your office. Each province and state has its own set of regulations that are worth checking out so you stay on the good side of the law.
E scooters are however, at least the smaller ones, foldable and able to be carried. So you could use them for certain legs of a journey, then walk it or fold it up and carry it a bit as well as bring it into your office for security.
值得注意的是，在一些地方，骑自行车的人、行人和骑摩托车的人之间形成了敌意，有时还会变得相当激烈。虽然这是一款非常酷的设备，但看到它们在人行道上来来往往的人，肯定会引起人们的不满。我们是有习惯的生物，有时很难接受改变，所以如果你想找一种不树敌的通勤工具，电动自行车比摩托车看起来更“有威胁”，因为它们融入了所有其他自行车。So they may be preferable, although withmany well rated offers, online adult sized electric scooterscan be more affordable than an ebike.
Walking to work
Yeah, good old walking. No flat tires, no traffic snarls, no one squeezed in beside you like on a train or bus.Ways to make a walk more bearable – and please be aware that we know a lot of these suggestions may inspire a ‘yeah, duh’ from regular walkers, but we’re trying to make converts here so we’re laying out the basics : )
我们大多数人口袋里都有一部手机，可以播放音乐、播客、有声读物或新闻应用程序，所以好好利用它，下载新东西，让你的大脑忙碌起来，时间过得很快。如果你走在一条繁忙嘈杂的路线上，一副降噪耳机可以让你的步行变得更加愉快。This is where your mom would see your big headphones and say ‘don’t forget to look both ways’, but you already have a mom so we won’t.
Some valuable items for commuting to work by foot – first be sure to have good shoes. It goes without saying one would think, but the amount you will save on bus fare, gas or parking more than justifies the cost of quality shoes that will make your walk more enjoyable and put less strain on your joints. For an interesting selection ofeco conscious walking and work shoes online that ship to US & Canada, see here.
Have a comfortable backpack with either a collapsible umbrella or compact raincoat or poncho, a hat, sunscreen, water, the basics. Think of it as your urban survival ‘bug-out bag’ that is always ready to go so you don’t have to dig for rain gear if the weather looks ominous.
For a high tech commuting solution
Then for those looking for the ultimate in compact and high tech commuting在美国，赛格威Ninebot S-Plus被称为“你的个人自平衡运输车”。赛格威S-PLUS提供了更高的速度和续航里程，以及远程控制的能力，甚至在你决定步行或停下来去取杂货，而你的手太满而不能骑车时，它还会跟着你。这款高科技的两轮滑板车拥有坚固耐用的基础和框架，在骑行时提供了信心。
- Easy to ride;
- compact and lightweight;
- max. speed of 12.5 mph;
- 22 mile range;
- maximum climbing slope of 15 degrees;
- Full-featured APP connectivity;
- UL2272 Certified.
Ride sharing - carpooling
向当地拼车板上的邻居咨询，看看附近是否有人和你走同样的路线，你可以拼车。Even this will probably be slow to start at first (and your neighbor may want to spray you with alcohol before you get into their car), but it will for sure gain in popularity as we get back to something of the old 'normal' eventually. And on the bright side, transmission of other colds and flus has dropped off due to our new-found hand washing diligence!
Now you know more abouteco-friendly commuting optionsthat don't involve sitting in a confined space with other human beings post Covid-19, sad as that sounds...Find more pages aboutlow-emission commuting and green lifestyle choicesin these pages :
Find more about green home constructionin the EcohomeGreen Building Guide pages- also, learn more aboutthe benefits of a free Ecohome Network Membership here. |
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