The first thing when thinking of how (and whether) I have kept my carbon footprint under check that comes to mind is cycling! I have absolutely loved cycling since I was a kid and I am positive that not one kid in my neighborhood cycled more than I did back in the days. Barring rainy days, I used to cycle every single day I was not sick. But no, that is not since when I started reducing my carbon footprints lol!
The reason is quite simple and straightforward. When I was a kid, I was not allowed any other means like riding a bike, or driving a car or take a taxi by myself. So my only options to go around the neighborhood was either I cycle, or I walk...neither of which would increase my carbon footprints in anyway. So given that I didn't even have any option to damage my "carbon profile," I can not consider cycling or walking as a kid as doing some immense good for the nature! That would just be a cheap shot at "glory!"
No. But it did make me a difference when I started med school. All my classmates were getting themselves bikes or cars to move around during university days. Or the taxi. That is when I was given a more variety of choices to "hurt" my carbon profile.
You know what they say - Being good due to lack of opportunity to do bad is not heroic. It's when you had the choice to do har, but you chose to do good instead." Okay, maybe no one actually said that, but that doesn't make it any less true.
So when I had to choose, I chose to buy myself a cycle instead of the fancy bikes my peers were getting. I saw the cycle does the same job for me getting around classes and going out to run quick errands. And without a part-time job secured yet, I was not willing to "waste" extra money on things I could easily do without. As a by-product, my carbon profile was showered with glory!
In later years I did eventually end up getting a bike. But I never sold off my cycle. And I would often resort to my old companion when I was not in a hurry to rush to class or hospital. I was also aided by the fact that absolutely hated taking the bus. I get seriously motion-sick and hence I'd much rather cycle for an extra 30 minutes instead of getting on the bus. In the process I would sometimes drag along a few friends away from the bus and get a healthy workout on our cycles! It is always fun to go on a cycle ride in groups!
