“You’re crazy!” we were told time and time again. “Why would you spend sixteen hours on a bus in one weekend? It’s not worth it!” But we were both concerned about the impact of our binge flying on the environment, and we decided it was time we addressed it.
We were apprehensive upon boarding the midnight Greyhound in Canberra. Sitting on a bus for eight hours was certainly not something we were looking forward to, although we were of course happy to do it.
Our apprehension was, as it turns out, unnecessary. I am happy to report that we both slept remarkably well, and the trip felt like it was over before it had even begun. We woke up at seven in the morning to the sight of our beloved Melbourne skyline, and were at the station by eight o’clock.
We had every reason to be emitting carbon-friendly clouds of smug; our bus trip used only one fifth of the carbon per passenger than a plane travelling the same distance. And the fact that so many fantastic people already take such trips by bus shows that avoiding planes where possible is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.
Having saved carbon and costs, and still managed to get a good night’s sleep, I couldn’t help but feel that it might be the plane people, not the bus people, who are the crazy ones.
By Lauren Waugh, Canberra
Emily and Lauren, still smiling after the eight hour bus ride