Clean Transportation

The transportation sector is the largest and fastest-growing source of carbon emissions in the US. In total, the US transportation sector—which includes cars, buses, trucks, planes, trains, ships, and freight—produces nearly 30 percent of all US climate emissions—more than any other sector. But this doesn’t have to be the case.

The good news is we know the solutions; clean technology solar, and batteries are getting cheaper; and many people want convenient urban living with less driving if they can find it. Our role is to help these happen faster!

The good news is we know the solutions; clean technology solar, and batteries are getting cheaper; and many people want convenient urban living with less driving if they can find it. Our role is to help these happen faster!

 

Electric Vehicles + Public Transit

We can move towards more electrified cars on the road, with convenient fast charging near destinations in commercial and residential buildings. Bust stations and bus fleets can be fully powered by clean solar electricity.

Traffic + Commuting

Overall three-fourths of U.S. commuters drive alone to work (Census), but substantially fewer do in compact, walkable, transit-oriented cities like San Francisco (35%). Real-world data shows up to a 2/3 reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) between auto-oriented suburbia and medium density. Therefore, the goal is to drive less by living in compact mixed-use communities, riding transit, biking, walking, scooting and carpooling, including pricing and other incentives 

  • Promote inviting, affordable, dense, and equitable mixed-use development;

  • Expand rail and bus transit networks and service, and create good regional transportation and land use plans;

  • Expand complete and green streets for safe biking and walking;

  • Promote incentives to drive less and shift trips to transit, biking, walking, scooting, and car-pooling, and reform parking requirements and pricing;

The Sierra Club’s Energy Resources Policy summarizes our goal:

"Reduce the need to drive passenger vehicles by shortening the distance between workplace, home, shopping and school, using 'smart growth' planning and improved transportation options. Provide safe and appealing options for walking, bicycling and mass transit, including light rail passenger trains, which will reduce vehicle trips, emissions, fuel consumption, and the demand for new roads and pavement. Well-designed mixed-use communities create long-term reductions in energy usage."