By Anonymous
Locate it on a map
Parking areas around campus in general. Specifically, Rappahannock deck, where I typically am and can observe.
Interaction
The human-environment interaction that I chose to focus on is the commuter culture of George Mason. Many George Mason students are commuters from surrounding areas in NOVA. This means that many students are driving to campus or taking the CUE every day for classes and events. Thus, increasing the emissions given off as students drive to campus, sometimes multiple times a day.
Resource characteristics
The environmental impact of this interaction is the resulting air pollution from emissions. According to the Federal Transit Administration about 29% of greenhouse gas emissions are from transportation, out doing all other sectors (Freudberg, 2010). In the case of commuters, these passenger vehicles are responsible for emitting around 0.96 pounds of Carbon dioxide per mile (FTA). When cars are driven, the combustion of fuel releases, Nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, VOCs, Carbon dioxide and Methane (Freudberg, 2021). This combustion increases the concentration of ozone, according to the EPA 55% of Nitrogen oxide emission is from transportation (Freudberg, 2010).
Governance/user characteristics
Everyday numerous students and teachers drive to campus everyday for classes. As of 2021, 74% of George Mason University students live off campus, with students living between 5 mins to 40 minutes away (George). Additionally, some students sit in their cars idling while waiting for their next classes or for their friends they are picking up from their dorms.
Social/cultural/economic/political settings or related ecosystems
Socially, many students have probably had limited experiences with public transportation and thus may feel uncomfortable using it and additionally wanting to have the freedom to come and go from campus on their own schedule and not based on the bus’s schedule. I believe that independence is a large social factor when students choose to drive to campus. For others they may not be able to afford living on campus and thus opt to stay home if its close enough for them to commute. The price of a parking pass on campus is significantly less than the cost to live on campus.
What can we do and what has been done
One suggestion to limit passenger vehicle car emissions on campus is to offer more hybrid and online options to allow commuters to limit the number of times they drive to campus in a week. The campus does have other options for commuter students, through use of the VRE, Lime scooters if they are close enough and carpooling. Currently, Mason is incentivizing the use of carpooling by offering discounted parking passes for students who carpool. Unfortunately, even with potential laws passing to aide in the accessibility of electric vehicles through tax credits and other incentives, the majority of students being able to afford EV’s is certainty a lofty goal.
Citation
Federal Transit Administration. (2010, January). Public Transportation’s Role in Responding to Climate Change. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/PublicTransportationsRoleInRespondingToClimateChange2010.pdf
Freudberg, J. (2021, February). How your commute affects air pollution and climate change. Outdoors. https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/conservation-and-climate/how-your-commute-affects-air-pollution-and-climate-change/
George Mason University Student Life. n.a https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/gmu-3749/student-life