angel espinoza

One sustainable change related to nature is reducing single-use plastics and walking for short trips instead of always driving. Living in Portland makes this easier since there are a lot of parks and bike-friendly areas. One struggle is convenience. It’s easy to forget reusable bags or just drive because it’s faster, especially when the weather isn’t great. But there are also benefits, like spending more time outside, improving physical and mental health, and creating less waste. What helped was keeping reusable bags and a water bottle nearby and starting small, like replacing one or two car trips each week with walking or biking. The ripple effects are mostly positive because using less plastic and driving less helps the environment and might encourage others to do the same. I’d keep doing this because it’s a small change that can still make a positive impact over time.

For my transportation sustainability action, I chose to use Portland’s public transportation system instead of driving whenever possible. Since I live in Portland and have access to buses and the MAX, this felt like a realistic and impactful change. I also take advantage of the student discount on TriMet passes, which makes public transportation more affordable and removes a financial barrier to using it regularly. By riding transit to school, work, and other activities, I’m helping reduce my carbon footprint, lower traffic congestion, and decrease air pollution. I also try to combine trips and walk when distances are short, which adds physical activity to my routine.