Unpublished -- Travel: Learn More about Travel Assumptions in the Choose a Path Tool

We use cars less to commute to work
Instead, workers can start telecommuting, taking clean transit, biking, or walking. The 2009 National Household Travel Survey found that 28% of vehicle miles took place on trips to and from work. If this trend continues, people could reduce GHGs from personal travel by up to 28% by using their car less to commute to work.

We use cars less to shop and run errands
Instead, people could walk or bike; take clean public transit; or have their goods/services arrive on their doorstep by clean delivery vehicles. The 2009 National Household Travel Survey found that 33% of average annual household vehicle miles took place shopping and running errands. If this trend continues, people could reduce GHGs from personal travel by up to 33% by using their cars less to shop and run errands.

We use cars less to reach social and recreational activities
Instead, people could walk, bike, or take clean public transit to reach social and recreational activities. The 2009 National Household Travel Survey found that 24% of average annual household vehicle miles took place shopping and running errands. If this trend continues, people could reduce GHGs from personal travel by up to 24% by using their cars less to reach social and recreational activities.

We use cars less for other trips, such as trips to school
Instead, people could walk, bike, or take clean public transit for other trips (besides commute, shopping, errand, and recreational trips), such as school trips. The 2009 National Household Travel Survey found that 15% of average annual household vehicle miles took place on other trips. If this trend continues, people could reduce GHGs from personal travel by up to 15% by using their cars less to make these types of trips.

We drive cars more efficiently
Driving more efficiently can significantly reduce GHG emissions. Strategies include going easy on the gas pedal and brakes, observing the speed limit, removing excess weight, and avoiding excessive idling. We assume potential reductions are around 10%.

Community design
Community design can help reduce the need for all types of light duty vehicle travel by making jobs, goods, services, and social and recreational activities more accessible via walking, biking, clean transit, clean freight delivery, and shorter car trips. Learn more about smart growth. Think about how convenient it would be to have your job, school, parks, stores, and library close by!