Walk to Shop Initiative at UVM
Shown here is an example of a Walk to Shop cart
Walk To Shop is an initiative created by Net Zero Vermont, a local non-profit. The mission of the organization is to “encourage people to adopt a shared vision for a sustainable future–to re-localize, re-direct and leverage the necessary resources to advance model sustainable towns and cities across Vermont and beyond.” They are the creators of the neon carts you've probably seen around campus and the greater Burlington area. Walk To Shop was created to encourage people to get out and walk, and lower their carbon emissions. The goal is to create vibrant walkable communities while also increasing access to food and everyday errands.
David Brantley is a senior at the University of Vermont. He is a part of the Eco-Reps team, a group of students that directs their peers to make sustainable choices on campus while also practicing environmental justice. David became familiar with the organization after he faced some difficulties with shopping. David had been walking on foot to grocery stores in the vicinity of UVM’s campus and was having trouble walking back to his home while carrying hefty groceries. Things like dairy were heavy and hard to maneuver. This led him to stop buying these products, or he would wait until a friend could drive him. He realized, however, that this wasn’t sustainable and there must be a solution. This is when he found Net Zero Vermont. Net Zero Vermont set him up with an upright shopping cart. This wheeled cart made David’s trips significantly more comfortable. Since getting this cart he's gone to stores and the farmer's market. He's even used it for tabling events.
Many students can relate to David’s struggle with getting groceries as a pedestrian. Walking is the more environmentally friendly option, but it is not always practical when you are carrying bulky items. Luckily, thanks to David, these carts are now available for students to use at no cost. This is thanks to the Sustainable Campus Fund which generates about $230k a year to be used for various sustainability projects around campus. David noticed the fund wasn’t being utilized and arranged to put that money into this project. The carts are now available to check out of all residence halls for those living on campus or at the Davis Center for off-campus students.
Info for UVM students on how to use these Walk to Shop carts
These carts have made it more accessible for students to travel to stores. This trip has no cost barriers thanks to Burlington's free public transportation initiative. If you walk to the store and take the bus back, it’s a free trip. Walking and taking public transportation are great measures to take when practicing a low-carbon lifestyle. Additionally, there are many benefits to walking regularly. It's a step toward an active, healthy lifestyle, and improving one's overall well-being.
I asked for David’s thoughts on the issue of pedestrian accessibility regarding the path that intersects with the Route 89 highway. This is a route that students take when walking to south Burlington shopping.
“There's for sure an infrastructure piece that needs to be addressed, but Burlington has it pretty good for a city of this size. And we are getting a pedestrian bridge that will be paid for by the federal government down the line.” The Walk To Shop program has provided a good foundation for sustainable transportation, especially once the pedestrian bridge is completed.
“What we were able to do with the Sustainable Campus Fund…is make sure that people could transport whatever they got from the store. Whether they're walking or by bus or whatever the mode of transportation. The Sustainable Campus Fund and the Walk to Shop is definitely an initiative that's [heading] in the right direction.”
To learn more about Eco reps and the Walk to Shop program
https://www.instagram.com/uvmecoreps/
https://www.netzerovt.org/walk-to-shop/
Also, be on the lookout for them at tabling events at the University of Vermont and around Burlington.
