Welcoming our first ever #EcoChampion, Will Fraser!
Our first #EcoChampion Will Fraser (CLA ‘15) with the Clean Air Council, spoke with Temple students, faculty and staff in an important conversation on Green Transportation as a climate solution!
Will graduated from Temple in 2015 with a degree in Environmental Studies. As the Transportation Outreach Coordinator, Will focuses his work on educating and organizing businesses to adopt sustainable commute benefits. Currently, Will chairs the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation + Infrastructure, as well as Sustainability’s Vision Zero Education Sub-committee.
Making the shift as a Temple Owl.
More than any other sector of greenhouse gas emissions, transportation generates the largest share. The emitted greenhouse gases come from our common use of burning fossil fuels for our use of cars, trucks, ships, and planes. A huge shift that Temple students, faculty and staff can make individually while changing the narrative together, is the shift towards Green Transportation!
In our Philadelphia community, we have the unique ability to make this shift. The most environmentally friendly modes of transportation are walking and biking, as they emit zero greenhouse emissions. Plus – it is a great form of exercise which benefits your health.
When walking and biking is not an option, public transportation is a great option that the City of Philadelphia offers. Utilizing the subway, bus, and trolley is a great alternative to utilizing a car. Also, carpooling and van-pooling is offered through many programs, where you can save money, and connect with your community.
Head over to our Temple’s on the Move blog to learn more about getting around campus sustainably.
How can I make a sustainable and effective shift?
The City of Philadelphia and Temple University, both have plenty of safe green commute and transportation options. Our #EcoChampion, Will Fraser, shared several eco friendly resources featured below!
Philadelphia Commute Options
Options for transit passes, carpooling, and van pooling allowing employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for expenses related to commuting to and from work! These are great resources to learn more and connect:
Commuting to Temple
While walking is a great green mode of transportation, sometimes biking is faster and easier! You can utilize the following:
- Indego: Philadelphia’s Bike Share, which is readily available on and off Temple’s campus.
- GoPhillyGo: Great resource to get around the city of Philadelphia safely while utilizing mostly bike lanes and local trails.
- Circuit Trails: Hundreds of miles of multi-use trails connecting local communities and providing endless opportunities for recreating and commuting.
Trails near Temple
Get out in nature by taking a bike ride or a walk, these trails are close to the city and easy to access:
Get Involved
- Global Bike Challenge: Sign up with CycleSeptember to earn points by riding while encouraging others to ride too. These points can lead to amazing prizes including an ebike!
- Feet First Philly: Pedestrian advocacy group sponsored by the Clean Air Council! Promoting safer streets and advocating for pedestrian rights. Join their newsletter and follow them on Facebook and Twitter too!
Gain real-life experience diving deeper into Green Transportation!
Apply to receive your walk-audit certification with the Office of Sustainability and Clean Air Council! This semester-long training course is for anyone who is interested in learning more about sustainability, environmental justice and community development, and transportation advocacy.
Participating in this training will set you up for future student leadership opportunities with the Office of Sustainability and our partners, and teach you how to be a better neighbor and more engaged citizen of the city.
This training will take place over two 90 minute sessions, and together with data collection, will require about 5 hours of your time over the course of the semester. All students of every major are invited to apply.
Please fill out this application in its entirety and reach out to caroline.burkholder@temple.edu with any questions.
Hey Eco Owl! Remain informed and stay connected:
Join our OwlConnect to remain informed and updated on all upcoming events with the Sustainability community at Temple. Check out our new EcoReps program while you’re there to gain hands on experience with greening our campus!
Follow along with us on social to stay engaged and find out who our next #EcoChampion will be!
Instagram: @TUsustainability
Twitter: @TempleEcoOwls