December 6, 2010
Roger Reinert
House of Representatives
429 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155Phone: 651-296-4246
VOTE YES ON H.R. 4722: ACTIVE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2010
Dear Mr. Reinert,
The proposed bill, H.R. 4722: Active Community Transportation Act of 2010, is in critical need of being passed. The proposed forms of alternative transportation will have a large impact on reducing the current high rates of air pollution emission across the State of Minnesota. As a health educator and citizen, I believe our current forms of automotive transportation are producing excessive greenhouse gas emissions, which are detrimental to our environment, at rapid rates and must be reduced. By passing this bill, our state will be will be working towards creating a more eco-friendly environment and healthier citizens within our community.
This program will help provide education and more opportunities for citizens in our community to have access to use alternative modes of transportation. Currently, 28% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are produced by automotive transportation, which results in high morbidity and mortality rates amongst citizens in our community. A recent study showed that if every American spent thirty minutes a day walking or bicycling instead of driving greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 64 million tons and lose 3 billion tons of excess body weight a year. By reducing rates of automotive transportation in our community, citizens are more likely to be active within the community, build a healthier stamina, and enjoy living a prosperous life with their loved ones. This will reduce the strain for the U.S. to rely on other countries to supply forms of fuel for automotive transportation use and reduce tax rates at the county and state levels.
Opponents of this bill might say that alternative modes of transportation will result in community businesses going out of business and layoff of employees. This might be true, however, there are other businesses that could strive and new businesses develop to adhere to the new needs of the community.
We appreciate your support on developing adequate transportation opportunities for the citizens in your region. We hope you realize the best course of action to protect our community's air is to vote 'yes' for H.R. 4722.
Sonny
FACTS ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
- Not driving for one day a week could reduce CO2 emissions by 8 pounds per week, or 400 pounds per year.
[Pennybacker, Mindy. Walking, biking, and ride sharing. Do One Green Thing: Saving the Earth Through Simple, Everyday Choices, 214. 2010.]
- When traveling 2,500 miles cross-country, driving emits about twice as much carbon emissions (3,000 pounds) than if you were to travel by plane (1,555 pounds) or train (775 pounds).
[Main, Emily; McRandle, Paul. A calculated loss: how to reduce your global warming emissions. The Green Guide. 2007.]
- Driving more slowly saves 1,500 pounds of CO2 emissions.
[Pennybacker, Mindy. Walking, biking, and ride sharing. Do One Green Thing: Saving the Earth Through Simple, Everyday Choices, 217-219. 2010.]
Wow I thought that driving across the country was way more harmful than taking a plane. I figured giant planes used way more fuel and polluted the air way more than a car. very interesting!
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't realize you could emit so much less CO2 by driving slower. I also didn't realize that driving was worse than flying. I've never thought of it that way.
ReplyDeleteI think including the statistic about how many billion tons of fat you can lose through this is really great! Then really it looks at addressing two huge issues, political representatives always like a big bang for their buck, so this is great! On your fact sheet, the statistic relating to flying versus driving was really interesting me. I fly at least once a year to visit family, and always assumed flying was worse for the environment. Good to know its not!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that driving was worse than flying, especially after everything we have been told about jet fuel and its toxins. I had a similar argument for the opposition of my bill as well.
ReplyDeleteI like how you said how many green house gas emission would be reduced and that people will lose 3 billion tons of excess weight just from walking. This really addresses two huge issues. Good to see driving slowly reduces emissions since I'm a slow driver!
ReplyDeletetransportation is a big topic among our group. yours is quite interesting though with the fact that driving is more harmful than flying. Who would have thought?
ReplyDelete