Unfortunately I must say that my carbon footprint is high and the main reason to this is because of excessive driving.  This contributes to my daily carbon footprint but I am unwilling to change it.  Not only am I unwillingly to change it but I would not know what to do if I did not drive.  I have to drive myself to school, and drive myself to practice.  I know that walking or riding a bike would be best to decrease my carbon footprint but I am not willing to wake up at 6 a.m every morning to get to school.  My driving is "off the table" because I drive everywhere and if I am not driving then my parents, or friends are.  I see driving as a necessity in my life that I am not willing to give up.

I totally agree Navah! It's really hard when driving is the easiest solution to get to practice, school and weekend activities. Although driving is "off the table" for me as well, car pooling is something that I've been trying to get better at. Like, getting a ride to practice from a friend and switching who drives every week. I think carpooling is the only way that we wouldn't have to sacrifice an excessive amount of time on bus, biking or walking and still be able to better our carbon footprints a little bit.

I also agree that driving is "off the table" for me. Driving is a part of my everyday lifestyle that I would not be willing to change. I drive everywhere as well-- to practice, to school, to events, etc. Unfortunately, to me the convenience of driving is too great to give up. Expanding on that, transportation in general is something that is "off the table" for me. My carbon footprint was unusually high and most of the carbon emissions were due to transportation, particularly airplane flights. I go on a lot of trips and I know that contributes to a large carbon footprint but I am not willing to give up traveling. Traveling is such an important way part of my life and I wouldn't be willing to give up the cultural experiences to reduce my carbon footprint.

Hi Alison, can you think of ways to reduce your footprint while still traveling?  Like taking direct flights  rather than multiple stops, or traveling sustainably once you get to your destination?

You really made some great points on how driving is truly a necessity for you. I try to incorporate people in my car as to save gas and fuel by carpooling. It also makes driving a lot more fun and enjoyable with other people to share the time with and you know you are getting something good out of doing carpools. Plus, you're saving money as hopefully those people in your car are pitching in for gas money!

Transportation was also my worst carbon emission category. I drive to school (I could walk but I'd have to get up at five) and all my other activities require driving because of my tuba, school stuff and basses. I'd carpool but I get to school an hour before most anyone else, and I have to lug all my stuff to seven or eight festivals a year. I literally have no choice but to drive or be eternally late.
   I think a big problem is that a lot of people who have to carry stuff around (whether it be for sports, music, work or some other activity) want an SUV to carry it all in. I have more stuff to carry than the average person but it all fits in a station wagon which also gets better gas mileage than an SUV. If more people drove smaller cars of hybrid cars instead of SUVs as is the trend today, US carbon emissions would be cut down a lot.
   I think that people want big cars because they are roomy, but a small car can be just as uncluttered as a SUV with all the same stuff in it. The truth is they just take up more room and guzzle gas. Smaller cars have other benefits too:  they are easier to park, easier to get into, and have better handling and a better turn radius. Whenever I make a U-turn it's always the big cars that get stuck.

Hi Navah!
I, like many of those who commented before me, understand your stance because driving is my main mode of transportation. It's almost impossible to give up using a car because it's the most convenient way to get from one place to another, based on your own schedule. Like Charlotte and Alison have stated, for me driving is also "off the table." And in agreement with bellah6, cars are great for transporting all the things we need during the day (textbooks, instruments, etc).  However, I think it's interesting how we all realize that even though driving is such a big contributor to our carbon footprint, we are unwilling to give it up because we're used to it and we can't (or don't want to) find an easier way to get where we want to go.