Want to reduce the amount of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions? According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), we can save about 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by using public transportation. Only 14 million Americans use public transportation and 88% of the other commuters are single occupant drivers. By commuting to work once a day using public transportation or sharing a ride, Americans would be driving 24.4 million less miles. Can you imagine how clean the air would be if we could save 12,963 tons of air pollution?

APTA’s monthly “Transit Savings Report” shows how much a person can save on a monthly or yearly basis by taking public transportation and living with one fewer car in his or her household. The report calculates the monthly savings for public transit users at $697 per month based on today’s gas prices.

These facts and more can be found at the newly released and well-designed breakthejam.org. Focused on getting Washington, DC area commuters to consider better alternatives, the messaging and statistics apply well to any large commuter community, and point to the big difference that can be made through a lot of small changes in individual habits. Just the animated intro alone is worth a visit.

If you’re wondering what effect your solo driving is having on the environment and your personal finances, check it out. It will hopefully inspire you to carpool or take public transportation at least a few days a week. Losing the frustration of traffic and gaining back some sanity is just a bonus!

Tags: car, carpooling, greenhouse gas, pollution, public transit, saving gas