Easy Green Living

Cool Alternative Vehicles: Drive a Dolphin

December 8, 2008

Up to now I’ve mostly focused on land-based vehicles, but the words “alternative” and “dolphin” just seem to belong together somehow, so I just had to share.   I wasn’t able to find any footage of how real dolphins would react, though… <grin> PS, there’s a two person version available, now.  Just think of how much of a creative spin it could put on a romantic cruise…

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An Alternative Spin On The Bicycle

October 20, 2008

Contributed by our pal, the Alternative Vehicle Reporter
...I discovered that even bicycles haven’t been immune to the creative spirit of invention that seems to have struck all things transportation.  There’s a variation that apparently makes it even more effective for exercise by turning it into a rowing machine.  Check out this video - it's called the ‘rowbike’. (Looks like it would have ground clearance issues with speed-humps).



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Vehicles Banned On Campus…

October 15, 2008


Post by our pal, The Alternative Vehicle Reporter

Looks like the future of private transport is changing more rapidly than even IBM and the car manufacturers thought. Community vehicles are already here!


Today I discovered two universities in the US that have BANNED private vehicles for freshman students. Instead, they have a partnership with a car-sharing program by Zipcar. IBM’s Automotive 2020 study did predict it, just looks like they were a bit off the mark as to when…

Alternative Transport - car sharing

Alternative Transport - car sharing


We’re seeing a lot more sustainability-minded colleges, universities and even high schools encouraging their students to walk or bike, rather than drive, to classes. But two institutions of higher learning, one in the north, one in the south, are taking things even further by banning on-campus cars for all incoming freshmen.

For the first time ever, the University of Miami is prohibiting cars for freshmen starting this fall. Instead, new students, returning students and faculty alike will be able to travel around campus and the city using fuel-efficient cars available through a university partnership with Zipcar. The car-sharing program offers users hourly, daily or annual access to cars when needed, gas and insurance costs included.

The Zipcar option will also be offered at Maine’s Bowdoin College, where first-year students will be barred from having on-campus cars starting next fall (2009).

“Students get along just fine without a car on campus, even in the winter months,” said Tim Foster, dean of student affairs. “With expanded alternative transportation methods in place now and others planned for the coming year, we believe first-year student transportation needs can be met quite adequately as we reduce the environmental impact, parking difficulties and congestion caused by additional cars.”

The University of Miami and Bowdoin are among a growing number of colleges and universities that have partnered with Zipcar. Other campuses offering the car-sharing program include Amherst, Boston, Columbia, Georgetown, Harvard, M.I.T., Smith, the University of Chicago, the University of North Carolina and Wellesley.

(See the original article here)

How To Keep Safe Cycling On Our Roads…

October 14, 2008

Cyclists - Easy Green LivingWith the summer months ahead, and hopefully finer days!, expect more bikes to hit the roads. Biking is an economical  means of transport and the exercise is beneficial for our health and well-being. To ensure cycling on the road is a “stress-free” experience, we encourage you to read the following tips.  Source: Tips found on Auckland City Council’s website.

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Alternative Vehicles Look at Peugeot Creativity

October 10, 2008


This is something from Peugeot's design contest. Solar Electric, you can see the panels on the back below, but the cool thing is that when you start driving in the city (or, more likely, hunting for one of the rare and priceless city parking spaces) you have an advantage.  Check out the next picture to see what it can do…  and yes, you can apparently drive with it in that configuration, although you’d close the doors first, of course! peugeot 888, 888, oskar johansen, norway, design challenge, 2008, shrinking car, shrinking vehicle, small vehicle, shrinking hybrid

Inhabitat » TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Peugeot 888 by Oskar Johansen

Cool Alternative Vehicles - the Carver

August 28, 2008

I have NO IDEA how I stumbled on this one, (had so much fun watching the videos I forgot how I got there) but I discovered two things. First: there’s a competition for economical alternative vehicles that’s going to have all of them racing in 2009/2010 - I’ve got to watch it! (and yes, these guys are racing in it too) Second: I think the Twike just got de-throned. I SO want to try one of these. Strike that. I just WANT ONE!!! I found two videos for it. First one is short and sharp, and the second one is Top Gear. If you watch that one (over 6 mins) you have to watch it all the way through - you get to see Jeremy Clarkson squeeze himself in the back seat - and the Hamster lets a little secret slip … (Yeah sure it was a joke!) Video 1: (1m49s) Video 2: TopGear (6m33s) PS Just remembered where I got the tip. Damon Clifford’s blog. Thanks :)

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