The consensus is in. Driving around in Portland is a long and uneventful waste of time. Articles recently published in the Oregonian (see previous blog) report that Portlanders spend at least 38 hours in traffic in one year. That’s 38 hours staring at the tailpipe in front of you as it spews toxins into your air supply. That’s 38 hours a year you spend in a stressful situation. 38 hours that I’d rather have back.
Clearly, the solution lies in an innovative transportation model that eliminates this conundrum. Regrettably there is a moratorium in place barring all new transportation companies from picking up and dropping off in downtown Portland and at PDX. Unless you live within a few miles of your work place the moratorium forces you to use one of two options to get to work, ride public transportation or drive your car. Trimet is certainly a sustainable option, especially since the city uses a Biodiesel blend in their buses. However, it is not always the most convenient option and requires a major lifestyle shift for those people who currently drive to work alone.
The moratorium was put in place in order to prevent more congested and damaged roadways and more polluted air. This theory makes sense until you consider that one Biodiesel van will certainly cause less damage to roadways and to our air supply than nine cars combined.
EcoShuttle is currently in negotiations with the city and the Port of Portland in order to have the moratorium lifted for a limited number of companies providing a sustainable option for commuters and travelers. Decreasing our carbon footprint has got to be a priority for our city, especially if we want to retain the title of “the greenest city in the nation”. Lifting the moratorium will help the cities progress in curbing global warming, creating cleaner air for its citizens’ health, and clearing the roadways.
If you believe that our city would benefit from a few less cars on the road, fresher air, and snow on Mount Hood. If you believe that the city should lift the roadblock it has placed in front new sustainable transportation companies that are working for a shift in the transportation model, our team at EcoShuttle encourages you to write a letter to your representative in city council and sending a letter to the editor of your favorite newspaper. Together we can change the face of transportation in Portland and make life better for all of its citizens.
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