The Mill Valley parking lot is a pretty hectic place, full of old Accords, revving engines and students who’ve just learned how to drive. Crossing the street invokes a haze of anxiety, and the line to get out of the parking lot is unreasonably long. All of these problems are the result of individual students driving themselves to school every day, but an even greater problem is the impact this has on the environment. By driving cars to and from school regularly, students leave behind a massive carbon footprint.

Nearly a third of all carbon emissions in the United States comes from vehicles, making them the largest contributor to air pollution. This pollution leads to the greenhouses gases that contribute to climate change. Some of the pollutants humans are releasing into the air can have harmful effects on people’s health as well. As many as 6.4 million deaths result from air pollution each year. Health issues such as heart attacks, strokes and asthma have all been cited as effects of air pollution.

The best way to prevent the amount of smog produced by personal vehicles at Mill Valley is walking. I may be biased, having walked home from school every day for three years, but I find that leaving my car in the garage and enjoying the fresh air is a good experience to have every once in a while. Not only is walking great for the environment, but it’s also a good daily workout.

Living near the school makes walking a reasonable endeavor for me and many others, but I understand that isn’t an option for everyone. Another great way for students to get around and not break a sweat in the humid Kansan weather, is by carpooling or using public transportation. By maximizing the number of passengers in a vehicle, students produce less exhaust, while still getting to where they need to go.

By utilizing alternative methods of transportation instead of driving themselves to school every day, I believe students can have a profound positive impact on the environment.