Why, Walk or Bike? Walking or Riding a bike is fun, it's easy, it's healthy and it is one way to move forward as individuals and as a community to a greener future.  In Mississippi especially, with our recent number 1 national rankings in Obesity (CDC) and Vulnerability to High Oil Prices (PDF from NRDC ) thinking about good old fashioned transportation options makes a lot of sense.

The number one goal of the ACUP climate commitment recently signed by Chancellor Khayat is to "Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible"

• The personal carbon calculator at EPA suggest that transportation accounts for ~30% of household green house gas emissions. In comparison, potential savings from recycling are ~1%
• If climate change isn't your thing, fossil fuel trends suggest that the end may be closer than we think
• If sprawling development continues to fuel growth in driving, the increase in the total miles driven may overwhelm expected gains from vehicle efficiency (Growing Cooler- ULI)
• Typical American automobiles make many short trips
  • 7 trips per day, average trip length of 4.0 miles ( FHWA 2002)
• Typical American automobiles are expensive to own and operate
  • AAA cost estimates for 2008 -- $9,369/yr ($780 per month) for a medium sedan
• City housing becomes more affordable if transportation costs are considered
  • $780/month can buy $140,000 more house (30 yr fixed-rate mortgage 5.25%)
  • These effects are quantified with new tools from the Brookings Institute Housing and Transportation Affordability Index http://htaindex.cnt.org/
• The housing market is already responding -- Rising transportation costs have led to a decrease in suburban property values

While we wait for committees to form, policies to be debated and politicians to negotiate we can begin to explore transportation alternatives that are less dependent on single passenger motor vehicles. Oxford has already made great strides in becoming a bicycle friendly community. Together we can help to position the campus and the town to better cope with the oncoming challenges of traffic, energy and environmental degradation.