Public Transportation as an Alternative to Driving

1
(No Transcript)
2
Public Transportation as an Alternative to Driving

• By Derrick Alba

3
Gas Guzzling Society

• Americans have an insatiable thirst for gasoline,
  and with sport-utility vehicles (SUVs)
  continually growing in popularity we are only
  getting thirstier.
• Americans drive more than 2.6 trillion miles per
  year in automobiles, light trucks and SUVs,
  according to a MEMA report.
• That's equal to 14,000 round trips to the sun.
• Today, we drive almost twice as much as we did in
  1980 (1.5 trillion miles), when gas prices were
  at their highest. (Howstuffworks.com)

4
Causes for Rise in Gas Prices

• Increased demand with trend of popular yet highly
  fuel consuming SUVs and light trucks.
• Increased motor traveling especially during the
  summer vacationing months.
• Volatile situation in Middle East can and has
  drastically affected oil pricing.
• Strong dependence of oil from OPEC which controls
  40 of the worlds oil production.
• Increased environmental emission standards
  increase the cost of fuel regionally.

5
How High is too high?
Photo Source - http//www.lifeisajoke.com/pictures
501_html.htm
6
Local and National Gasoline Costs

• In the Chicago area as of June 1, 2004
• According to (chicagogasprices.com)
• Lowest 1.97 Citgo Oakbrook Terrace
• Highest 2.43 BP Amoco North and Elston
• Nationally as of June 1, 2004
• According to (gaspricewatch.com)
• Lowest 1.73 Franklin, KY
• Average 2.04 Nationwide
• Highest 3.25 Lanai City, HI

7
Historical Gas Prices Historical Gas Prices
Year Price Per Gallon
1950 1.91
1955 1.85
1960 1.79
1965 1.68
1970 1.59
1975 1.80
1980 2.59
1985 1.90
1990 1.51
1995 1.28
2001 1.66
Prices adjusted for inflation Prices adjusted for inflation
Source U.S. DOE and Howstuffworks.com Source U.S. DOE and Howstuffworks.com
8
Historical Gas Price Chart by Year
9
Reducing Driving will Help Reduce Pollution

• Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is
  collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening
  blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the
  planet to warm up.
• Coal-burning power plants are the largest U.S.
  source of carbon dioxide pollution -- they
  produce 2.5 billion tons every year.
• Automobiles, the second largest source, create
  nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually.
• (National Resources Defense Council NDRC.org)

10
U.S. produces the most Pollution

• Though Americans make up just 4 percent of the
  world's population, we produce 25 percent of the
  carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning
  by far the largest share of any country.
• In fact, the United States emits more carbon
  dioxide than China, India and Japan, combined.
• Clearly America ought to take a leadership role
  in solving the problem.
• (National Resources Defense Council NDRC.org)

11
What can we do as an individual?

• According to Greenpeace, among the many things
  you can do as an individual to help the
  environment includes walking, biking or using
  public transportation whenever possible instead
  of driving to help cut down on emissions.
• If possible choose Gas-Electric Hybrid Vehicles
  and Economy Models over larger gas-guzzling SUVs
  and Trucks if driving is a must.

12
Public Transportation Guide

• The CTA is convenient and inexpensive.
• Plan your Trip at http//tripsweb.rtachicago.com/
  
• See current fares at http//www.transitchicago.co
  m/maps/fares.html
• See which fare plan is best for your needs
  http//students.depaul.edu/dalba/CTA/CTAFaresTabl
  e.htm

13
DePaul U-PASS Details

• Full-Time Students automatically have U-PASS fee
  of 48.25 charged to their tuition.
• Students using U-PASS have significant price
  savings over regular fares.
• All full-time students at DePaul are
  automatically charged for a U-Pass each quarter.
• Pick up U-Pass at the beginning of each quarter,
  usually the first week.
• Schedule is posted at the ID Services Office at
  the beginning of each Quarter. Locations of ID
  services http//is.depaul.edu/security/cards_pass
  es/id_services.asp

14
Bibliography

• Bonsor, Kevin. How Gas Prices Work. Article.
  http//money.howstuffworks.com/gas-price.htm
• Resource on gasoline pricing as well as
  historical data on gas prices.
• Global Warming Basics. Article.
  http//www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/f101.asp
• Information on the effects of pollution on global
  warming.
• Individual Action What you can do to prevent
  Global Warming. Article. http//www.greenpeace.org
  /international_en/extra/?forward5fdestination5fa
  nchor252fcampaigns252fintro253fcampaign25255f
  id253d4012campaign5fid4012forward5fsource5f
  anchorSolutions2520Introductionitem5fid9211
• Information on what individuals can do to help
  prevent global warming.
• Chicago Transit Authority Website.
  http//www.transitchicago.com
• Resource for fare pricing, fare card system, maps
  and trip planning.
• CTA U-PASS Information. http//is.depaul.edu/secur
  ity/cards_passes/cta_upass.asp
• Details and pricing information for full-time
  students who are eligible for U-PASS.
• Wheeler, Timothy B. Commuters slowly turn to
  transit. ChicagoTribune.com, From The Baltimore
  Sun. Article. May 30, 2004. http//www.chicagotrib
  une.com/business/bal-te.md.transit30may30,1,360465
  3.story
• Resource on the increased use of Public
  Transportation as an effect on the increase of
  gasoline prices.