Many people now understand the impact on the environment that their choices can make. Consumers are making changes in the products they buy and what companies they choose to patronize.

Some other areas are less known, such as the environmental damage done by online shopping. However, consumers are wising up in many areas about where and how their goods are manufactured, and where produce is sourced from, and how farmers are treated.

One area that has been in the news almost constantly for decades is the environmental damage caused by the various modes of transport that so many people use.

Cars, planes, motorbikes, and ships, can all cause pollution and increase the effects of climate change. Inevitably, it is unavoidable to completely remove all transport but there are ways to limit the damage down by it.

And there are also alternatives to consider. 

Why Should You Consider Looking for Alternative Transport?

Everyone contributes to carbon emissions, often without thinking about it. Making a purchase online? You’ve just caused some damage to the environment.

Online shopping is extremely convenient and becoming more popular but it involves huge amounts of packaging including plastics and other non-biodegradable materials, the energy used at the warehouse and dispatch center, and of course the transportation used.

Vehicle emissions pollute the air with Co2, nitrogen oxides, unburnt hydrocarbons, dust particles, and carbon monoxide. These can lead to poor roadside air quality, irritate and cause respiratory problems and worsen climate change.

Luckily there are some extremely easy ways to support the environment and one of those is just by changing your transport. Before you think you are about to get told to carpool, think again. There are far more exciting alternatives out there. 

Choosing an Alternative Mode of Transport

The biggest problems facing someone looking for an alternative mode of transport are cost, distance, weather, terrain, and environment.

Regardless of what was mentioned above, carpooling is a good alternative to driving a car to work alone when you consider the emissions involved. A standard car emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year so if that vehicle was shared with 1, 2, or 3 more people for part of that time then there would be fewer cars on the road and therefore fewer emissions.

Similarly, public transport is also a good option. Buses and trains are considered to be eco-friendly options even if it is only because they can transport a large number of people in one vehicle instead of the roads being clogged up with cars.

Hybrid vehicles, electric cars, bicycles, and electric mopeds all represent ways to travel while still caring about the environment. If you live in an area with good roads, weather, and the traffic is reasonable, then a bicycle is almost perfect. Get fitter while going from A to B.

There is another form of alternative transport that is becoming very popular and while it won’t necessarily get you to work it could be great fun during other times. 

Why Electric Skateboards Might Be the Way Forward

Electric vehicles of all types have been making headlines for years but it is only now that they are really fulfilling their promises.

One of the biggest trends occurring now is with electric skateboards. You may have seen people zipping around on these boards and wondered about them before. Well, now you have the perfect excuse to consider buying one.

Electric skateboards are eco-friendly, can go realistically useful distances between charges, and hit surprisingly high speeds. Of course, safety needs to be taken into account as with any type of transport.

Electric skateboards are far easier to learn than regular boards and are suitable for beginners of all ages. They can be used for recreation, commuting, and for sports. 

Can an Electric Skateboard Really Be Seen as Alternative Transport?

Depending on which model you owned, your electric skateboard could travel up to 25 miles on one full charge. When you consider that some of the first electric cars dating back 5 years could only manage 100 this is quite impressive.

More impressive is the cost involved. Electric skateboards can cost as little as 5 cents to fully charge. There are several effective ways to live an eco-friendly lifestyle and having transport that takes you 25 miles for 5 cents with zero emissions is definitely one of them.

They can certainly be used for going to friend’s homes, to the shops, commuting reasonably simple journeys, and for use in the park. While they can’t replace a passenger car or transport you long distances they can be used as a part-time alternative to your normal transportation.

How Are Electric Skateboards Controlled?

This is the biggest difference between e-skateboards and conventional boards apart from the motor. Instead of being solely controlled by the skateboarder and gravity, e-skateboards are controlled with a wireless remote.

This allows the skateboard’s speed and braking to be adjusted with much more control than a normal skateboard. The remote also lets the skater monitor the battery level and riding modes. 

Using an Electric Skateboard for Recreation

This is where e-skateboards come into their own. Due to the high power, some of them give out they can hit speeds of up to 25mph. This in turn means they are capable of going up hills. That’s right, a skateboard that goes uphill. Imagine the fun to be had when you casually ride past a sweaty cyclist struggling up the slope.

They should also be seen as slightly different from a skateboard as these models can go places that normal boards cannot and they can carve and move like a cross between surfboards, skateboards, and snowboards.

They are also surprisingly physical. While they might sound like a lazy option for getting around on they still require both leg and core muscles to be used. Using an electric skateboard will develop and strengthen these muscles and using your board for casual riding or in the skate park will burn a surprising amount of calories. 

Other Electric Forms of Transport

If an e-skateboard doesn’t grab your attention then there are other options available in the electric transport world now. E-scooters, hoverboards, and even electric unicycles are appearing in cities across the states. Realistically electric cars from brands such as Tesla represent the most realistic form of alternate transport

If you are serious about reducing emissions then electric transport is possibly the best choice today. Even after considering the electricity used and the production of these new vehicles, research shows electric cars produce far fewer emissions and pollutants than standard passenger cars.

If you can’t afford an electric car then one of these other modes of e-transport can provide some useful and still help the environment. You can see how eRideHero tested twelve different models here to help anyone looking to buy an electric skateboard. 

Summary

As the European Union pledges to cut Co2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and other countries look to reduce fossil fuels and replace regular gas-guzzling cars with electric models it is hoped that alternative transport will become the norm.

Even if that takes a while to happen, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy whizzing around town or in the skatepark on a new electric skateboard.