The holiday that seems to be about all things green has quite a few traditions that aren’t exactly eco-friendly. St. Patrick’s Day, a beloved celebration of Irish culture, brings us parties, delicious food, and parades each year. But is there a way to make sure we are making this holiday truly green? Here are some tips!
Ditch the Car
If you have plans with friends, consider walking or taking public transit to your destination. This way, you can avoid road congestion, parking frustrations, and above all, the very real risk of drunk driving accidents. The possibility of someone getting behind the wheel after a drink can be avoided altogether with one of these safer and greener modes of transportation.
As much as we all love plastic beaded necklaces and glittery shamrock décor, cutting down on our plastic usage can still be possible on fun holidays like St. Paddy’s Day. Make decorations out of green cloth, ribbon, or fabric, and make a day of it! You can keep the things you make for years to come, and give your home a totally unique look since everything will be made by you. Need some ideas? Here’s a great article!
Stay In!
Eliminate the stress of going out on such a busy holiday – Have a fun night in with your family or friends! Watching movies and eating classic St. Paddy’s dishes can be a memorable and stress-free night. Especially with parades cancelled and many events/locations closed due to the pandemic, a chill night in could be exactly what you need. Not to mention… It’s not even the weekend yet!
As the holiday approaches, be sure to drive safely, and take with you this old Irish blessing: “May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold.”
Winter brings commuting challenges our way—Potholes, tire pressure fluctuation, and increased fuel consumption. Luckily, with how common telecommuting has been this winter, many people were able to cut down the wear-and-tear on their vehicles by working from home.
Even if your commuting has been minimal, there are still important steps to take to make sure your car is in good shape. Here are a few tips to get your vehicle ready for spring.
Check Your Battery
Colder weather can take a toll on your car’s battery. Some warning signs of an overworked battery are dimming headlights, slow-moving power windows, and dim interior lights. It may be time for a check-up. Brakes, engine, and tires could always benefit from an inspection, too. If you’re in a carpool, you don’t want your vehicle to have any unpredictable issues.
Replace Windshield Wiper Blades
If you’re on the West Coast, you were likely fortunate enough to not have to shovel your car out of the snow as much as New Englanders did this winter. Even still, it’s a good idea to swap your windshield wiper blades for new ones at the end of each season, as mud and grime from the road can weaken the blades over time.
A Much-Needed Cleaning
Washing your car’s body can be a lot of fun, and doing it yourself can save you money instead of going to a car wash. If you’re a member of a carpool, having a clean car and neat interior may be one of your priorities. Now is the time to do it as we prepare for spring cleaning around the house!
Treating Your Car with Care
Cars are a huge investment, and issues can be inconvenient and even dangerous. If you are a member of a carpool, it is worth checking out your Department of Transportation website to see what Guaranteed Ride Home Programs they have for employees who use green commute options.
Welcome in longer days and warmer weather by treating your vehicle to some spring maintenance!
As we enter March, Women’s History Month gives us a chance to recognize the achievements of women in the business of transit. Like many industries, transportation was a man’s world until women made space for themselves.
Wilma Russey
A classic form of ridesharing, the taxi business didn’t see a woman cab driver until January 1, 1915. Wilma Russey became a pioneer of the transit industry before women even had the right to vote. Her story headlined the New York Times with an article titled “New York’s First Feminine Chauffeur Starts Business on New Year’s Day.” In her signature leopard-skin hat, she quickly became a popular local driver with a strong background and expertise in mechanics.
Helen Schultz: "Iowa's Bus Queen"
When public transit made its way to the U.S., it was typically in small-scale and often family-run enterprises. If women were in the business, it was likely because she inherited it from her husband or father. One female entrepreneur changed everything—Helen Schultz, founder of the Red Ball Transportation Company at age 26. Established in Iowa in 1922, this was the first female-owned bus line. In the competitive field of transit, Red Ball was marketed to women and traveling businessmen, and earned Schultz her title of “Iowa’s Bus Queen”.
These figures changed the status quo as they succeeded in their careers. From making it in the New York Times to gaining statewide recognition as the Bus Queen, these women made names for themselves through hard work. Shattering these glass ceilings for women in our country has had lasting impacts on the industry to this day. Women in the transit industry continue to build on their legacies today.
The conversation surrounding transportation equity is incomplete without hearing from disadvantaged communities such as low-income members of society, people with disabilities, and Black andBIPOC(Black, Indigenous, People of Color)communities.
What is Transit Equity?
Transportation equity is the idea that no matter your race, gender, income, age, or location, public transit is a civil right that should be safe, accessible, affordable, and environmentally sustainable.
In order to achievetransit equityaround the U.S.,residentsneed to be providedwith proper resources, tools, and opportunities for economic growth.In terms of transit, funding public transportation systems is key to community advancement.
Transit Equity Day, celebrated on February 4th, commemorates the life and legacy of Rosa Parks and the key role she played increatingthe ideals behind transportation equity.We are able to take all the positive changes we have made, and develop them further to make transit systems better for those who have historically been left out.
Combatting Climate Change
Not only is public transit a connection between communities and economic abundance, but a strategy to combat climate change. This creates a great need for low-income and primarily Black communities to receive abundant resources for equitable and accessible transit systems.
Transit equity requiresstakeholdersand industry leadersto pinpoint where the needs are the greatest, and to do what’s necessary to meet those needs. If weare planning for the people who are the most marginalized, then everyone in between benefits, too.
Recognizing the link between economic, environmental, and health issues is key to beginning to achieve transit equity. The disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color has been heightened by institutional policy and planning that leaves out low-income communities from the real benefits of thriving public transit systems.
Our Role
To advocate and fight fortransit equity, members of the transportation industry like ourselves must create space to prioritize community voice, and center on processes that achieve positive outcomes.
AsVernā Myers, VP of Inclusion Strategy at Netflix put it, “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.”
In her youth,Edwina ‘Curlie’ Justuswas the only Black student in her entire elementary school.She would go on to defy what anyone ever thought a Black woman could bein oursociety, andbecome the first Black female locomotive engineer at Union Pacific Railroad.
Defying Expectations
Born in 1943 in Omaha, Nebraska, Justus was always a dreamer.Living inan unsupportive world,everything she achieved came down to pure resilience andhard work. When she washired at Union Pacific as an office clerk in 1973, she was one of five black women working for the Omaha office.
Always described as bubbly, pleasant, and hardworking, Justus endured the cruel face of racism on a daily basis at her place of work. NickAloi, a former employee at the same time as Justus, was interviewed forNebraska Stories, and said “She had two strikes: She was a woman, and she was Black.”
Justuswouldrecount the things she heard coworkers say about her both directly, and when they thought she wasn’t around. But against all odds, she kept her head held high andmoved forward. Within a couple years with Union Pacific, Justus was promoted to the position of traction motor clerk where she would keep track of repairs. “I didn’t even know what a traction motor was,” she recalled. Her drive and intellect boosted her up in the company and she adapted to every challenge thrown her way.
Making History
In 1976, Justus became the company’s first African American female locomotive engineer. For this position, she moved to North Platte, a town of 22,000 people, where less than 100 people were Black.
Justus knew she was making history. “From the very first department I was ever in, most of the guys and the women too had never been close enough to a Black woman to touch,” she said. “I changed every department that I went into.”
A Timeless Inspiration
By the time she left Union Pacific in 1990, the workforce looked very different compared to the barriers Justus had to cross. To this day, this railroadcompany, founded by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, commits itself to inclusion and diversity, and reflecting America in their work.
Still an inspiration to young Black women today, Edwina Justus still resides in Omaha, NE. In 2017, Justus spoke at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum on a Saturday afternoon during a Black History Month event. Her advice on this day was the same as what her younger self would have said: “Never stop daydreaming.”
