Despite my many road trips, I have driven only 8,000 miles over the past year.

During most of the year, I do all I can to avoid driving. There are many weeks when I will only drive one day a week – on Sunday. Where I currently live that is a realistic lifestyle choice, as I have access to public transit and a fairly walkable neighborhood. Even when I could drive somewhere, I often ask myself is there way I could get their on foot or by public transit? Is their an alternative activity I could do that doesn’t involve motoring?

Walking is much healthier then driving. It involves physical activity, not sitting in the plush seat of an automobile. Walking, especially on sidewalks and trails doesn’t pose the health and safety risk that driving around in an automobile does. I used to hike in more remote country, but now I’ve come to the conclusion that hiking in the wilderness – just as a day trip – really doesn’t make sense when you can walk near you home, get all the physical benefits of walking without the carbon emissions or cost of fuel and automobile maintenance.

There is nothing wrong with spending time in the wilderness – you have to go there hunt, fish, camp – but when you just want a carbon-free stroll, nothing beats visiting places you can walk to from your neighborhood. Maybe the woods and trails nearby aren’t as pristine or interesting as the great wilderness, but you save a lot of money, and aren’t producing much carbon by walking.

Sure, I like my big truck with the camper shell. It’s wonderful for camping and doing activities in the wilderness. But I much rather reserve it for special occasions, and use my own two feet and public transit system whenever possible.