If you already make efforts to be a “green” traveler, what does it take to be even greener? This week we will explore various ways to step up your green travel efforts using our shades of green travel spectrum. If you’re not familiar with the spectrum, it ranges from “pea green” travelers who are least likely to make extreme efforts to travel green; to “Kelly Green” travelers who make moderate efforts to be eco-conscious while traveling; to “forest green” travelers who will go to almost any length to leave no impact while traveling.

Transportation

Green or Pea Green: Drive a hybrid

Pea green travelers are a bit trepidatious when it comes to choosing greener transportation. Maybe the rigid schedule of a bus or train doesn’t fit into their itinerary, or maybe they enjoy the freedom a car gives them. But they still want to make less of an impact on the environment so they choose a fuel efficient car or hybrid over an SUV.

Greener or Kelly Green: Take a bus or train

Rather than rent a car, kelly green travelers will take publication transportation. They’re committed to reducing their impact on the earth, but, unlike forest green travelers, aren’t ready to bike 300 miles to get to their next destination. When the train isn’t departing at exactly the right time, the kelly green travel will rearrange her travel plans to make it work.

photo credit: skalas2

Greenest or Forest Green: Walk or bike

In their typical hardcore fashion, forest green travelers opt to walk or bike just about anywhere. They’d rather hop on a bamboo bike to cross the country than enlarge their carbon footprint by taking a train or bus. Even if it takes longer to reach their destination, it’s worth it for forest green travelers. If biking means one more stopover on the way from Spain to France, so what? Maybe they’ll see a cool city and meet new people along the way.

For more green transportation ideas and resources, see Care2’s compilation of transportation links.

This post is part of our Shades of Green Travel series. Check out the last post on green accommodations.