Carbon Counter

Sharing a ride instead of driving alone is one the easiest and cheapest ways to immediately reduce your "carbon footprint".

About 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US come from using passenger vehicles, and CO₂ (carbon dioxide) makes up nearly all of greenhouse gas emissions in the US transportation sector.

In fact, an average passenger vehicle emits about one pound of CO₂ for every mile traveled. As the only passenger in the vehicle, that pound is produced to move you alone.

On the other hand, the miles you travel on a bus or train are shared with many others. This significantly reduces your share of CO₂ emissions.

The Carbon Counter at metrotransit.org shows an estimation of how many pounds of CO₂ emissions our customers have saved so far this year by using buses and trains instead of driving alone. The counter also takes into account the CO₂ emissions of transit vehicles and represents the difference between our emissions and the CO₂ emissions saved by customers who are sharing a ride with us.

The counter spins faster during weekday rush hours when transit ridership is highest and slows to match boardings during the rest of the day. 

Sharing the ride as little as once a week can make a difference. A ton of difference. Learn more about how Metro Transit is reducing emissions here.