Did you know?

The Subway keeps up to 70,000 cars off the streets of NYC every day, reducing CO2 emissions in the city by up to 253 tonnes – almost as much as 69 million package deliveries.

Electric and Sustainable…

The iconic NYC Subway is entirely run on electricity, which means there are no emissions in the tunnels. The passenger mile emissions of using the subway trains are up to approximately 40g, 5 times less than the emissions of cars. The subway trains also get their electricity from the NYC grid, which sources up to 70% of its energy from renewable resources such as hydroelectric, solar, and nuclear power.

Recycling and Reducing Waste…

Amongst other implementations, the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) uses sustainable materials in train designs and construction. But it doesn’t stop there. MTA also recycles all its heavy steel and other metals, subway car wheels, motors and generators, waste oil, and even entire subway cars! 

Energy and Water-Efficient Stations…

MTA has committed to making its stations as energy efficient as possible, using eco-friendly alternatives and materials for its lighting, HVAC systems, and water services. They use rainwater, natural ventilation, and heat recovery units in cold weather, and some stations even use natural light. 

MTA for Net Zero…

MTA is making further strides to source its own renewable energy for its operations and become Carbon Neutral in the coming years, and they have submitted a Net Zero target to the Science Based Target Initiative. This ensures that the MTA will halve the Greenhouse Gas Emissions for each trip using public transport in the city by 2030 vs 2015,  meaning that MTA will also be contributing to keeping our global temperature well below 2°C. 

Sponsor leading climate projects with Furthr.

But How Can I Travel Even Greener?

Did you know?

New Yorkers have the lowest carbon footprint per capita among the 50 states, largely due to their use of public transport. This avoids up to 17 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Walk it, Cycle it…

The best green alternative to commuting is walking and cycling. These options are not only environmentally friendly but also a great way to: enjoy the city’s scenery, bump into your favorite celebrity, or find your new favorite green coffee shop! Don’t like walking, or in a rush? There are still green ways to get around NYC without relying on public transport. E-scooters and e-bikes emit 20% less CO2 per passenger mile than the subway, and depending on where the electricity used to charge them is sourced from, they can produce as little as 8g per mile. 

And What About the Bus?

The NYC bus fleet has more than 3,300 Clean Diesel buses, 1,683 Hybrid-Electric buses, 749 Compressed Natural Gas buses, and 10 all-electric buses. Older diesel buses are slowly being replaced with newer models that use cleaner fuels, such as compressed natural gas and hybrid-electric technology, emitting fewer greenhouse gases and reducing fuel consumption. The MTA has also been implementing a number of sustainability initiatives to reduce waste and increase usage of recycled materials and has even been experimenting with using 3D printing to create replacement parts for buses. 

Track how your commuting habits affect your personal sustainability with Furthr

How do different transport methods compare?

So here are all our tips for a greener commute:

Tip #1: If feasible, Walk it, Cycle it

Tip #2: Use the Subway over bus, taxi or private cars

Tip #3: Track your emissions with Furthr’s climate companion platform

Coming soon! Look for the green symbol in your route plans in-app and choose the journey with the least emissions.

Why not visit these natural destinations in NYC

1. Central Park
2. Prospect Park
3. High Line Park
4. Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Mapway x Furthr

At Mapway, we specialise in transport apps and cover 24 of the busiest cities in the world – helping you to plan journeys, check travel information, and avoid delays. We make using public transport simple and stress-free, and so encouraging people to use public transport instead of cars or taxis is a vital part of our business. 

Of course, using public transport is also key in helping reduce CO2 emissions in big cities during our travels and commutes. That’s why we have joined forces with Furthr to help you travel as eco-consciously and climate-positively as possible.  Furthr’s mission is to make saving the planet real and rewarding, helping us channel our eco anxieties into tangible and effective actions, via education, community, and personalised eco tips. You can read more about their mission and plans here.