The first step to reducing your environmental impact is to use public and alternative transportation as much as possible. Biking, walking and NYC's transit system will often get you where you need to be faster than your car. In addition to easing your burden on the environment (air and water pollution, etc.), these modes of transport also reduce fuel, toll, repair and other costs.

Walking

Walking in NYC can sometimes be compared to driving, as you carefully navigate crowds and obey unsaid rules during the morning rush to work or perhaps in the middle of bustling areas like Times Square. However, it's a great way to see the city, enjoy the environment, and get where you need to go quickly, perhaps finding a Greenmarket along the way. Walking has many health benefits and can reduce the risk of many diseases — from heart attack and stroke to hip fracture and glaucoma.

Cycling

In June 2009, the NYC Department of Transportation completed the City’s ambitious goal of building 200 bike-lane miles in all five boroughs in just three years, nearly doubling the citywide on-street bike network while reshaping the city’s streets to make them safer for everyone who uses them. DOT remains committed to its goal of doubling bicycle commuting between 2007 and 2015 and tripling it by 2020, as laid out in the agency's strategic plan. The City is on track to meet its combined agency goal of 1,800 bike-lane miles (on street, in parks and along paths) by the year 2030, as outlined in the City's Bike Master Plan and in the Mayor's PlaNYC agenda. DOT plans are to install 50 lane miles each year until the citywide bicycle network is complete. NYCDOT's 2009 cycling maps will help you navigate your way through bike lanes and streets. Visit the Transportation Alternatives website for more resources and ways to get involved with other New Yorkers committed to cycling.

Public Transportation

If you take the subway or bus to work, you're in good company: 14 million Americans take public transit daily. Check the MTA website for service updates, maps, and schedules. Websites like hopStop.com are handy for getting you from A to B. Check out Treehugger's guide to public transportation for interesting facts and suggestions and happy travels.

Driving

If you need to get somewhere by car, NYC has some green car services and of course look for hybrid cabs which are on the rise.

Alternatively, if you own your own car, here are a few ways to reduce pollution:

• keep engine well-tuned;
• make sure the catalytic converter is functioning properly;
• avoid jackrabbit starts and high speeds.

Dispose of used oil and other automotive liquids properly, avoid skin contact; these contain metals and other toxic compounds: