Posts Tagged ‘children’

Hi!

I hope everyone enjoyed the innovation theme of last weeks articles. I did, but it is time to go back to some new tips on how to make a green commute easier.

A mass transit commute can seem chaotic at first. Lots of people are sharing a vehicle, you have to keep track of which station you are at, different routes, different costs for different services and so on. Is it really possible to bring kids to that kind of environment? Well, yes, I am a living example of that, being raised without a car in the family. But it  does take some forethought. Without it, it will not be enjoyable for anyone.

Let me explain. Children on the bus can be really cute. I really enjoy seeing a kid asking mum/dad questions, singing etc on the bus. But noughty children is not cute and disturbs the other passengers as well as add to the stress of the parent. I´ll let a real life example point out how it shouldn´t be; on a train ride some months ago me and my girlfriend shared a cupe with a mother and a child of about 6. The child was hyperactive, screamed, managed to pour lemonade over some very expensive study material of mine, jumped on the table and disturbed everyone around. Regardless of what we did the mother responded with “but she is so cute”. The point is; it is possible to bring children on the bus. It is a safe environment. The risk is minimal at best. Try it out, but make some preparations.

1. Make sure YOU know the route, and see if you can bring a stroller on the bus. Ask the driver. That way you know the rules of the game in advance so to speak.
2. Keep the kids occupied. Letting them run amok disturbs the other passengers.
3. Bring a snack and some water/lemonade.
4. Bring a bag for excess clothing. Public transportation can be a warm
5. Use common sense. Would you accept your child’s behavior if it weren’t yours? Other travelers should give you some space, but scenes like above should always be avoided. There are limits to patience after all.

I am by no means an expert on children, rather the opposite. But riding the bus every day neats you many examples of how you can do it, and of how much they can benefit from it. One benefit is increased mobility. How many parents drive their children everywhere when they are getting old enough to enter clubs and activities? What about if the kid could take the bus home by them selves when they get older? Another benefit is that moving from place to place by other means then car, like with bike or walking, is good for the health. A third one is that you get to spend some quality time with your kid while showing him/her the real world.

A green commute should be an alternative for everyone, and it is. It is just a matter of preparations and a positive frame of mind. Try it out. This article is a really good starting point of how to go about bringing the kids on public transportation. I can recommend a read through. And afterwards, try it out. Bring the kids. Commute greener. Enjoy the benefits of a greener commute, and pass down the knowledge.

Fredrik

Many families start of the morning with a controlled chaos of getting ready and then get in the car to leave the kids at school, followed by an often stressful drive through rush hour traffic to work. Sounds familiar? Are there other, greener ways to commute with children, at least now and then? Of course there are! Children will not be harmed in any way by walking, cycling or riding the bus to school. The two former will keep the child physically active while the latter will still be a fun experience that teaches how to behave around other people and how to share resources.

Let me make this clear first; I don’t have any children. So take the suggestions of this blog post with a pinch of salt. But, having grown up without a car, I know that a bus or bike commute is very doable.

A greener commute with children require discipline. The parents must keep an eye on the kids and keep them from getting caught in dangerous situations, as well as keeping them occupied so they don’t disturb other commuters. This in turn let the children experience the world in a whole different way, outside of daddy’s/mommy’s car either on bike or bus. Exposing them to the real world isn’t necessarily something bad or dangerous as long as the parents keep the eyes open and are careful not to get into dangerous situations.

This kind of commute require planning and organization though. Extra time is really good to have, especially in the  beginning. Something to occupy the children with. Is a baby wagon needed? Where to keep the children’s biking helmets? Bus tickets?

However with that done, the greener family commute can have many positive effects. It is not something that have to be done EVERY day of the week, but once or twice can help both you and the children stay healthy and will make them more independent when they are old enough to ride the bus or go cycling by themselves. Some positive aspects are;

• Both you and the kids can stay in shape with a bike-ride
• “Free” bonding time, you do something together.
• The children learn that there are other modes of transportation
• They will learn how to navigate the alternative modes of transportation, thus becoming more independent
• It will create a healthy and sustainable habits.
• It is good for the environment (duh)

Why am I even writing about this when I don’t have children myself? Because our way of living is not sustainable. We need to become more energy efficient to stave of climate change. At the same time a fat epidemic is spreading over the planet. It is important that the next generation learn healthier and more sustainable habits. That includes everything from the food we eat, how we live to how we commute. Monkey see, monkey do. Children get many of their habits from their parents, and by switching to a greener commute now and then you can help them along the way, and help them becoming more independent at the same time.

Try it out. Ride the bus to the mall with the children. Or make a family bike-ride to school to see if it is possible and if it is possible to connect with bike paths or buses to work from school. Who knows, it may well work out fine, making a greener commute an easy alternative!