Alternative Transport

People take longódistance transport for granted, for commuting, holidays, and transport of food and other resources, without realising the effects of pollution and energy inefficiency on the environment. To reduce or mitigate these effects, there are several alternatives.

Bicycling

The ACT is excellent for getting around by bicycle. Cycle paths run through most suburbs, often through parkland. Theyíre all marked in the UBD map in the front of the Yellow Pages. You can also buy a bike map from Pedal Power (see below) or bike shops around Canberra that shows all sorts of useful info for cycling, including which roads are best for cycling on and where the bike shops are. There are bike shops on campus; in Londsdale street in the city; at the OíConnor, Lyneham, Dickson and Downer shops; and heaps more locations: see the yellow pages. Make sure you ask them about a student discount; most are happy to give you one.

Pedal Power is a very active cycling group with over 1000 members that runs rides around the ACT, has all sorts of bikeóskills courses and workshops, offers bike insurance, and lobbys government on cyclingórelated issues. It works closely with the Department of Urban Services to fix the worst of the cycling "black spots" around Canberra (to report cycling blackspots, contact pedal.power@sunsite.anu.edu.au). The Pedal Power web site at http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/community/pedalpower has the most extensive list of info and links on cycling laws, strategies, events, products, membership & everything else cycle-related in Canberra. It costs only $20 a year to become a member. Pick up a form from the web site or the Pedal Power Office. The office is in the Griffin Centre, Bunda St., Civic and is open Thursday and Saturday noon-2pm. Contact them by email at pedal.power@sunsite.anu.edu.au or by phone on 6248 7995.

Critical Mass has not had the success it has had in other cities, perhaps because of the quality of cycle paths (and the fact that they actually exist). If it happens in 2000, it is a non-organised event to promote cyclistsí use of public space (including roads), and departs from Garema Place on the last Friday of the month at 5:30pm. For an idea of what it could be, see the Sydney Critical Mass web page at http://www.nccnsw.org.au/member/cmass.

For an idea of the ACT Governmentís approach to bikes, see the web site http://www.act.gov.au/services.

Public transport

Canberraís publicótransport system relies on buses operated within the ACT by ACTION and to NSW by Transborder (running to Yass, Hall and Murrumbateman) and Deaneís Buslines (running to Queanbeyan). For timetabling and route information, give them a call. ACTION and Deaneís Buslines also have timetables, route maps and other information on their web pages, and you can buy a "bus pack" with all the ACTION timetables in it from most newsagents. ACTION also offers free timetables at the bus interchanges in Civic, Belconnen, Woden and Tuggeranong.

ACTIONís web site is at http://www.action.act.gov.au; email action@dpa.act.gov.au; phone 131710.

Transborder Express is contactable by email at transborder@bigpond.com.au; and by phone on 6241 0033.

Deaneís Buslines has a web site at http://www.deanesbuslines.com.au; phone 6299 3722.

Doing The Best You Can With Cars

Each year, the average car dumps 4.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Just seven fastógrowing trees, or eighteen mixed natives, will convert this carbon dioxide into wood and fresh air over their lifetime. There are ten million vehicles in Australia. So if you have to drive, you can mitigate the greenhouse implications by planting trees. Alternatively, you can pay $25 to Greenfleet to plant them for you. For more details, visit the Body Shop in Canberra; see the web site http://www.greenfleet.com.au, or phone 1900 140 197 (which attracts a charge).

You can also reduce the impact (and cost) of driving, by buying a smaller, more fuel-efficient car when you buy one; by car-pooling; or, if you donít need a car that often, by using taxis and car hire when you really need it.

For long-distance car pooling, listen to "Ease On Down the Road", a radio announcement of lifts offered & wanted. Itís on at 12:30 and 4:45pm during the week on 2XX radio, 98.3 fm. If you want to place an announcement, contact 2XX (see the Information Resources section).

Comments, Queries or suggestions email enviro.collective@student.anu.edu.au