How To Be a Better Environmentalist

Let's be honest. We're all busy people. Especially if you're an involved college student. You barely have time to scarf down your lunch while running to your next commitment. So what do you do? You don't hold onto your glass Frappuccino bottle to recycle it later. That requires too much thinking and carrying. You throw it into the nearest garbage can where it will be promptly transported to your local landfill and/or trash incinerator. We've all been there. This is just one example of a daily struggle many of us face.

Here is the my personal favorite way to reduce your environmental impact:

Ride your bike.

This is especially relevant for people who live close to school/work. Cycling will solve many of your problems and drastically reduce your fossil fuel consumption/CO2 contributions.

1. First of all, you will save a ton of money on gas. When I started cycling to all of my commitments on campus, I only had to fill up my car once every few months if I didn't have to do any extensive traveling. Those are some serious savings that benefit the environment. 

2. Secondly, biking is a great form of exercise and improves your health. When you're constantly in a hurry, like me your bike rides are very brisk and they get your heart beating and lungs pumping. You'll drink more water, spend more time outside and increase your overall fitness level. The short/long bursts of exercise will also improve your concentration and help you sleep better.

3. You'll make friends while cycling. Seriously. I met a good friend while biking around campus at 3 AM. These people are awesome to hang out with because they will reinforce your commitment to decreasing your environmental impact by cycling more!

4. You get to your destinations faster! You can often avoid congested traffic situations where cars are moving slower than you can bike. Some studies show that cyclists in big cities get to their destination in half the time of a car. 

A monkey riding a bike.