Better yet, stop flying.
But really, even for those who are not ready to take that step for the planet (Why? Why would you not be? Talking to my climate freak-out upper-caste blue-people here. Suck it up and move near the grandkids already, would you please. Or else move them near you and Bankrol their business. You’ll come out ahead financially too.) …
But yeah, even for those of you who are freaked-out about climate change and yet remain weirdly unready to take that basic step for the planet:
Why would we begrudge taxis and Uber’s their livelihood? Why on earth would we want to inflict more driving on the General population, when people are already so harried and besieged?
BTW 40 years ago, back when I was still flying, my Aunt Nancy did the greatest public service to me when I flew from DC to Boston to visit her. (Silly me, I didn’t know about the train back then.) But the act of service she did to me was to write down the public transportation instructions all the way from Logan to her house.
The trip by bus, subway & foot from Logan to my aunt’s house in West Newton was wonderful, and very empowering to me (at the time a young woman who had often been shamed by the people around me that i lacked common sense).
I appreciated my Aunt’s faith in my competency — it’s always been refreshing to me when people trust me to be able to wipe my own ass, in addition to them loving me and wanting my company — AND, not less, I appreciated her introducing me to the public transport in her city. Which we went on to use together,and me by myself, many times during my visit to her. Even though she did own a car.
Gosh I loved the hell out of my Aunt for so many reasons but in addition I love how she cared about people and planet. I still miss her to this day. She’s flying with the angels, or should I say she’s walking and taking the train and bus with the angels in heaven.
Here’s the original article from wall street journal that prompted this. (I didn’t actually read the article, those are behind paywalls. I just read the commentary on their Facebook post about the article.)
Title is, “I’m serious, drive to the airport for the people you love.” (WSJ facebook feed Nov 25ish, 2025; author Dawn Gilbertson.) https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/holiday-airport-pickup-dropoff-traffic-d517babd
“Picking up and dropping off the people you care about at the airport is a hassle—but it’s the ultimate act of service, wrote columnist Dawn Gilbertson in 2023. Hitching a ride with family or friends adds a personal touch the most charming Uber Black driver can’t replicate. ‘If I’m free, I’ll bring anyone to the airport, including my former husband. It saves us all money, too.‘”