Travel

The way that we get from A to B has a huge effect on carbon emissions. On this page, find out more about active travel, public transport, and electric vehicles.

How Our Journeys Impact the Climate

Until the mid 19th century, humans had limited options for how they could traverse the land and sea. Limited to horses, carts, boats, and their own two feet. Many people never ventured much further than a few miles from their home. Then, with the advent of trains, automobiles, and planes the world got much bigger and was more accessible. We now struggle to think of a world without this amazing network of travel options. With the benefits that this has brought humanity, it has had dire consequences for our planet. Transportation is now the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with road vehicles accounting for three-quarters of all emissions from transport. If we want to achieve climate targets then the way that we think about how we move around needs to change drastically.

Active Travel

Walking, wheeling, and cycling is the healthiest, cheapest, and most environmentally friendly way to travel. Ditch the car for short journeys and instead talk a walk or ride to your destination. Wellington is a very walkable town, with the furthest estates still being less than 1.5 miles from the town centre.

Five Reasons to Give Active Travel a Try

Public Transport

Try replacing you car journeys with public transport where possible. Taking a bus or a train to a destination cuts carbon emissions by around 40% and 70% respectively. Taking public transport also reduces total road congestion as a single double decker bus can hold over 75 people – just imagine if every one of those people was in a car instead!

Rural public transport is notoriously far behind what is available in cities but Wellington is fortunate to have regular bus connections to Taunton, and coaches to Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, and London. There is also still hope that the planned train station will go ahead, with local councillors and our MP fighting for this much-needed service.

Bus Services from Wellington to Taunton run roughly every 15 minutes on weekdays and now has a reinstated evening service. From Taunton buses can be accessed travelling across the whole of Somerset.

Megabus has a 24 hour service that easily connects Wellington to Bristol (including Bristol Airport) and Plymouth, with many stops in between. There are also daily National Express and Berry’s Coaches services to London (including Heathrow Airport).

At present the nearest train stations are in Taunton and Tiverton Parkway where local and cross-country trains can be caught.

Links to relevant and useful websites can be found below:

⬇️ Guide to Bus Routes in the Taunton & Wellington Area (Transition Town)

⬇️ First Bus

⬇️ Megabus

⬇️ National Express

⬇️ Berry’s Coaches

⬇️ National Rail

⬇️ Community Transport in Somerset

Concessions for public transport are available for people with disabilities or people over 60.

To apply for a disabled or senior bus pass, please visit the Somerset Council webpage.

To apply for a disabled or senior railcard, please visit the National Rail webpage.

Greener Vehicles

Electric vehicles may be the future but you can still be environmentally friendly with a vehicle that uses fossil fuels. The production of electric vehicles is, quite ironically, harmful to the environment in a significant way and buying a brand new EV in place of a perfectly good, fuel efficient petrol car is not the quick solution to climate change that it is often made out to be.

How to Make Your Existing Car More Eco-Friendly

Before you run out and buy a shiny new EV you should assess your current car for it’s environmental impact. You may be shocked to find some petrol cars, even ones over 10 years old, are very low emission. It is always best to use up what you already have instead of going out and buying something completely new as the production of new items has an environmental impact. Driving your economical car for a few more years and making sure it is well-maintained will be easier on the planet and on your wallet.

To make your fossil fuel car as eco-friendly as possible, it is important that is is well-maintained. Keep your tyres at the correct pressure and make sure your brakes are kept in good condition as this all contributes to your fuel economy. In the warmer months try to limit your air conditioner use, instead opening the windows to allow airflow. When driving, be mindful of your efficiency by avoiding idling, maintaining a steady speed, and avoiding heavy braking. If someone is going the same way as you on the way to work or an activity, consider car sharing to cut down on unnecessary vehicles on the road.

As well as the above, make sure you are also utilising public transport and active travel where possible! Reducing car journeys is the number one way to cut greenhouse gas emissions with our day-to-day travel.

Electric Vehicles – The Pros and Cons

Electric vehicles have become more widespread in recent years due to improved technology, environmental concern, and rising pump prices. On the surface you would be forgiven for thinking that buying an EV is a fast-track to becoming an environmental hero. After all, EVs have no emissions and these days have fantastic range and can rival traditional cars with all their various bells and whistles. It is predicted that 2030, over 50% of all new car sales will be electric.

With the above in mind, we must consider the implications of what it means for an electric vehicle be built. Making a battery for an electric vehicle produces as much CO2 as a petrol car does driving roughly 50,000 miles. Some of the components for this battery have limited lifespans, leading to damaging and unsustainable mining practices with environmental and humanitarian implications.

In the long run, an electric vehicle is about 50% better for the environment in its lifetime than a vehicle that burns fossil fuels. Neither vehicle will actively help the environment, but one will cause less damage in its lifetime. If you are in the market for a brand-new car and are weighing up the options, electric is definitely the way to go. If you need a new car but find that a good electric vehicle is out of your price range, shop around for a second hand vehicle that has low emissions and good fuel economy.

Limit Air Travel

International travel is now a part of modern life, with frequent and affordable air travel the rest of the world is easier to see than ever before. Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities we can participate in and as incomes rise more and more people are able to access this mode of transport worldwide and so its impact will continue to grow. Air travel is often the cheapest and most convenient way for people to get to their holiday destination but it is by no means the only option.

If travelling to continental Europe, consider using a ferry or the Eurostar to reach the mainland and then use trains from there. Interrail passes are a fantastic way to travel within Europe and are very cost effective. Travelling through a country by train can be an adventure in itself, allowing you to see its landscape and smaller towns. If you take a train through the alps you get some stunning views!