DoE urges public to re think their car use
(CNS): The Cayman public is being asked to think about alternatives to cars as a means of getting around the island. For Earth Month, the Department of Environment is asking people to use the bus, bikes, car pooling or even their feet on at least some of the journeys they take to help in the long term goal of reducing the islands carbon footprint. Officials explained that using an alternative mode of transport just once a week can make a significant difference.
George Town
“Vehicle emissions contribute significantly to the population’s carbon footprint,” said Nathan Dack, the DoE’s sustainable development officer. “A move towards a more sustainable transport system and the widespread use of alternative modes of travel e.g. public transport, car sharing, walking and cycling are longer term goals for the country.”
Dack explained that in the short term people can make a difference with just small changes and the DoE is encouraging everyone to think about how they can change their own behavior to cut down a little on the use of their cars and other vehicles.
“Even small steps, such as car sharing or using the bus once a week, can make a big difference in help to reduce the country’s carbon footprint and the release of harmful Greenhouse Gas emissions, which contribute to climate change,” he added
In its second in a series of surveys, the DoE is asking people their views on the current public transport system and what it would take to get more people on the bus. The survey just takes a few minutes and will help shape future policies for a greener Cayman.
Take the survey
The first survey asked people about their view on alternative energy.
Category: Land Habitat, Science & Nature
Diogenes – We could go nuclear. And then put the waste … uhm, let me get back to you on this.
Perhaps the Licensing Dept could actually check exhaust levels of all vehicles? Problem is that inspections have been given to some car dealers/shops and so people who have a vehicle that would no longer pass inspection are going around begging favors by someone who knows someone who will have their crap vehicle pass inspection.
I have re-thought my car use. And decided to get a bigger car. What I drive and how much I drive makes no difference to the environment as a whole.
I used to cycle to work every day, but it ended up more expensive than running a car, as I was knocked over twice in 6 months, by the idiot drivers who drive into you or overtake and then stop immediately in front of you with the signals.
Ironically I found the worst and most selfish driving was on a Sunday by those going to/ or leaving church. Someone needs to inform that God can see their actions everywhere, not just an hour in church every week.
Reduce the duty on motorcycles!
Bicycle infrastructure and allowing fully electric bikes would go a long way toward reducing congestion and vehicle use. I could ride my bicycle a lot of places, but would also show up drowned in sweat. An electric bicycle is the perfect option for most people with only a few miles to go.
If public transportation was as reliable and comfortable as in Bermuda, many would choose it. Lunatics on drugs in dilapidated mini vans transport public in Grand Cayman
Yeah, first create a biking infrastructure, second enforce traffic laws, third build side walks, then people will rethink their car use.
I would love to see the increase of motorcycle use on the island, but Cayman makes it very hard to obtain a license to ride one. Must you suffer on a scooter < 125cc for two years before upgrading to a decent motorcycle? Yes, training should also be a factor (riding a scooter is not the same as a 600+cc), drivers should respect the motorcyclist, and motorcyclist should be also obey the speed limit.
Why do you even need a 600+cc motorcycle? Most speed limits are 25-40 mph, which is fine for a scooter. There isn’t even a curvy highway to carve corners with a real motorcycle, so your only reason must be to go really fast in a straight line.
Learner scooter cc limit should be raised to 150cc. The 50cc Vespa eventually tops out at 40mph but is dangerously slow for normal traffic use on the bypass. I tried riding one of those for week and had to sell it or die.
DOE needs to do something about the thick black smoke pouring from the exhausts of the “public transport” before I set foot in any of them. How many people pon de bus dem you think wearing seatbelts?
I bike to work 2-3 times a week and am surprised that I am still alive to write this comment.
People love the convenience of their cars too much for conventional public transport to take on a major role here. Electric cars charged from solar power would be a more realistic way forward. Until we can call driver-less electric vehicles and tell them to take us where we need to go….
Here is a novel idea. Take the so called “public transport system” out of the hands of the left-over cast members of Mad Max, and set up a proper system. Purchase buses than run on propane, have a network in which the public can rely on, and feel safe taking.
I will gladly leave my car home, and take a proper bus transport system. But not this Jam down style system we now have. Even Jamaica is trying to stamp it out.
If the public transport system was more reliable and drivers less aggressive and dangerous on the road, perhaps there would be greater usage
Speaking of greenhouse contributors: we recall post Hurricane Ivan 10 years ago and it seems we got soft on emissions in the months and years after that. There are still many seemingly pre-Ivan buses out there that would not or should not have passed a smog inspection in 2015. They leave trails of noxious sooty clouds from whatever curbside they accelerate from. We’ve all seen it or been behind one of these buses. This is actually a ticket-able offense under the Traffic Law 2011, 93 (1)(f) and punishable under section 138 with fines of up to KYD$2,500 or imprisonment for six months, or both. Perhaps the RCIPS Traffic Dept should learn about our traffic code and go round up these obvious carbon footprint offenders for the DoE. These fines would generate significant public revenue that could be redirected towards cycle lanes.
That is way too complicated for the RCIPS they would rather block up traffic during morning rush hour traffic. If they have to work to write a ticket its not worth it.
What public transport?
Many of us have tried this. If the DoE wants to lend some credence to this vision, they ought to huddle with the NRA and guide their policy going forward. We need to: incorporate bike lanes that extend all the way from A to B; plant trees to shade those cycle paths; remediate the many pinch point curbings or dead-end shoulders; and install barriers at traffic circle entry and exit points to discourage meanderings into a cyclist’s safety zone. Traffic education, anticipation, and SIGNALING would also help to make our roads a safer and more welcoming place to ride. It is still a bit of white-knuckler ride in many sections with many near-death experiences – not a pleasant way to start or end your day. It is however fairly easily remedied if the DoE and NRA are willing to get together and talk sense.
If CIG or a private contractor provided a proper bus service I’d use it.
Me too – I can hardly walk from West Bay to the Industrial park in the heat, but if there was a reliable, affordable bus service I would use it for sure.
This is a viable business opportunity for a Caymanian to start up. Why is someone not stepping up.
Car pooling…are you serious. If I was to rely on a lift from someone else I woukd probably be late to work every day. If I was to walk the three miles to work I would need to shower and change my clothes once I arrived and there are no facilities for this and the same is true of using my bike except to add that Cayman is not cycle friendly. Get real. The only real alternative is a public transport system that is safe and reliable. Is this the wirst case if a department just saying something so that they can claim they have actually done anything?
Pavements (or sidewalks) to walk on would be a good start. Take your life in your hands if you are walking on or even near the road!
Oh please, can we just start with all the diesel-burning stanky vehicles first.
Or how about reducing demands on the diesel-burning CUC generators that everyone uses?!
Thumbs down from the lone Mennonite Resident that doesn’t utilize electricity….hey, how’d they get on the net?!?
numb-nuts, if you came out of your cave and did a simple internet search, you would know that there are many other viable and cleaner ways to generate electricity.
Also, according to the American Cancer Society and The World Health Organization, “Diesel Exhaust Causes Cancer.”
smh
Thanks, oh righteous shaking head Captain Solar, you’ve really outsmarted us all. Unfortunately the rest of the consumers of the islands are captive CO2 contributors via CUC’s preferred generation method. How about making that the issue?
Go on then – name a viable system – both in commercial terms and in dealing with base load – for an island with Caymans consumption patterns and total demand.