Worried about your carbon footprint? You’re not alone. Fortunately, in our modern era of sustainability and environmental consciousness, there’s a plethora of ways to get around town — and the country — while being a little kinder to Mother Earth in the process.

Amtrak/Acela

AmtrackIt might be a bit more expensive than popular low-cost bus services, but tried-and-true rail is still one of the most efficient, environmentally-conscious, and rapid ways to travel. There’s old-fashioned Amtrak, of course, but if you’re in a bit of a rush, the Acela will get you there in a jiffy. With free WiFi, comfy seats, tables to work on, and an on-board snack and drink area, you’ll be riding in style.

Car and Ride Shares

ZipCar Parking

By Drums600 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Zipcar’s become a household name, but popular rental car companies like Enterprise have gotten into the game with car and ride share programs as well. Whether you’re heading to the airport, to work, or to another state, you might want to look into a car share. The appeal of these systems is twofold: not only can you rent a car for your own personal use, but some of these services allow you to hitch a ride with folks who are going your way for a bit less money and some extra peace of mind.

Bike Shares

Couple - man and woman - riding their bikes or bicycles in their free time and having fun on a sunnyEven better! While they were a rare find as recently as a few years ago, bike share programs are now all the rage in major metro areas. In addition to providing a great workout, cycling is perfect for navigating through compact neighborhoods and avoiding the major headache of parking your car. While they vary by city, you’ll find Citi Bike in New York, Hubway in Boston, and Capital Bike share in Washington D.C., that will help you get around town in an easy and eco-friendly way.

Walking!

Walking Tours
Don’t discount the original way to get from point A to point B. Taking a stroll uses absolutely no gas, and can also be a great way to discover new parts of town that you otherwise wouldn’t have encountered or paid attention to during your usual drive. If you have some time to spare, go ahead and get lost for a while en route to your next destination in the spirit of adventure — between the fresh air, the exercise, and zero emissions, you can’t go wrong.