STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES - EARTH SYSTEMS PROGRAM

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Get Started

Tire Pressure

Oil & Air Filters

Speeding

Accelerating & Braking

Tracking Gas Mileage

Idling

Air Conditioning

Get Directions

Step It Up

Carpooling

Fuel-efficient Car

Car Sharing

Local Shopping

Off-peak Travel

Asking Directions

Local Vacations

Go For Green

Biking, Walking, Transit

Telecommuting

Carbon Offsets

Home/Job Location

Overview
The easiest way to ditch the car is to live close to everything you need. There are generally three main categories to consider when trying to relocate to a car-free community: nearby work opportunities; local shopping options; and finally, neighborhood places to play (movie theaters, bookstores, schools, parks, etc). Additionally, you will want to look into local transit options and determine whether the streets are bike- and pedestrian-friendly.

Tips & Tricks
Take a walk and look around the prospective neighborhood. By taking a stroll, you can learn a lot. Are there sidewalks? Are there bikes lanes? Does it seem safe to walk and bike? Do you see any parks, local restaurants, a grocery store, other shops and useful businesses? Are the bus stops within walking distance? The keen observer can learn a lot by just looking.

Get a transit map or visit the transit web site. Are there bus or rail routes that go by your prospective home? Could they connect you from home to work? Also ask if there is a bicycling map and look for bike routes in the neighborhood.

Web & Print Resources
Test addresses for local resources within walking distance:
www.walkscore.com

Find local transit agencies:
www.publictransportation.com