As I explored alternative transportation options, I found out more about the measures taken to grow the presence of micromobility riders in urban planning. An important example is Bird in Los Angeles (commonly found at UCLA), which provides an SMS messaging service that unlocks an e-scooter for which riders can use cash to pay for. The purpose of Bird's methods are to ensure more equal access to micromobility for lower-income communities who may find it too expensive and inconvenient to purchase their own micromobility vehicles. Also, METRO is preparing for the 2028 Olympics by opening up various new rail and bus routes throughout the city, which will result in a secondary effect of creating higher levels of safety for commuters around the city. With greater safety and less car usage, a more micromobility and public transportation - friendly environment will open up for Angelenos considering using alternative forms of transportation.

As I took daily walks around UCLA and my home neighborhood, I have noticed subtle details of the infrastructure that made it easier or harder to use micromobility. At UCLA, I often observed students with e-scooters riding through the ramps that are near the stair area, which worked to connect the academic section of campus with the housing and leisure side on the west for all students. This subtle detail of architecture is a feature that incentivizes the use of e-scooters to get to class, as riders are not forced to take a long route around campus, as is common at other universities for alternative transportation riders. When I walked around my neighborhood, l found that areas on prominent streets which could be utilized for new bike lanes by the city council are instead filled with objects such as storm drains, parking spots, and traffic signs that give bikers little room to ride alongside cars. This also made my neighborhood walk more difficult, as I was forced to navigate around several of these objects. In spite of this, I enjoyed the lack of cars in my neighborhood as I walked, as I saw at least one person biking or using another micromobility device for every walk I took.

As I practice mindfulness while eating, I have found that limiting the distractions that surround me during meal periods do not only reduce unnecessary energy spending on entertainment, but lead to a healthier body and mind. As I spend my time on my phone, particularly on social media, I am constantly fed with advertisements promoting fast-food companies such as McDonalds, Chick-Fil-A, Carl's Jr. and more. When I see these advertisements around the time I am eating, it gives me a strong craving for delicious yet unhealthy foods and snacks. After I eat these unhealthy foods, I often feel physically uncomfortable and guilty from the power that my phone had on me for making a bad eating decision. As I pursued this goal of putting away all distractions while I eat, I found myself investing in more balanced meals with less of a need for sugar-heavy chocolates or any other unhealthy extra foods. Since I was eating healthier, I became less reliant on technology after eating to provide me with a sense of dopamine and satisfaction, due to better moods from the healthier food I ate.

I regularly use single-use grocery bags and water bottles, and this definitely has generated a lot of waste on my end. For this EcoChallenge, I focused on completely eliminating this waste, and I was largely successful. It was an easy fix - I now use a Trader Joes insulated bag (which keeps the groceries cooler for the walk back home) every time I go shopping, and I make sure I am actively bringing my actual water bottle with me to campus every day. Oftentimes I would forget to bring it, and this would lead to me having to either use plastic cups or to purchase water bottles from the vending machines around campus so that I could stay hydrated. However, just by making an active effort every morning to check that my water bottle is in my backpack, I have reduced my plastic waste significantly.

For this ecochallenge, I committed to walking to Holmby Park once a week with my friend. The walk was definitely a lot of uphill and downhill, and was not easy when it was midday and really hot out. However, it was refreshing to be outside, socializing with my friend. When we would get to the park, we would study at the park. I found myself way more productive than when I would just stay in my apartment or in an artificially lit library to study, and also just appreciated the outdoors a lot more. As part of this challenge, I also committed to utilizing the bikes around LA more. I biked to Santa Monica a few times, changing my routes each time. I stopped by small, local grocery stores to get some snacks like fresh fruits for beach picnics, and explored areas of LA I have never gotten to see before. As a student from out-of-state, this was really fun and I can't believe it took three years for me to utilize this crazily affordable public amenity. Exploring my area and being outdoors has definitely helped me this quarter with managing my own stress, mental and physical health, and also has reminded me of the importance of caring and respecting the outside world.

I emailed - and followed up with - two of my state representatives with this ecochallenge. One was the state senator, Chris Murphy, and the other was my district representative, Jim Himes. I included in my emails details about regenerative agriculture and its benefits, as well as a description of the deforestation project that had happened by the local state park that I always used to visit as a kid and still now that I am older. I highlighted how sudden and unprecedented this deforestation project was and how my entire hometown was horrified to see that happen right before bird mating season - just to expand upon a town facility and add more parking. A beautiful scenic forest was stripped down in a matter of days, without warning. I got no response from either, and when I followed up, I still did not receive a response, at least not yet. This was definitely upsetting and I can only hope that they or someone on their team did see my emails. However, I have learned from this that you can't give up when things don't work when you try - so I signed up to receive emails about when these politicians are in my area in case I am able to go to a town/state meeting in person to voice my own perspective.

I’ve always been a terrible driver, so it’s nice to know that traveling by foot is not only better for the safety of myself and others, but for the environment as well. Since relying more on walking or other muscle-powered transportation, I’ve noticed a meaningful shift in how I engage with my community. When I drive, I’m focused on the destination—how fast I can get there, how terrible LA drivers are, where to park, how to avoid traffic. But when I walk or bike, I notice things I never would behind a windshield: street murals, neighborhood gardens, sidewalk chalk, the sound of birds, or even just the changing colors of the trees marking the transition of spring into summer. I feel more present, more grounded, and more connected to the people and places around me. Even walking to class instead of driving to campus has made me appreciate UCLA’s buildings more, especially in my last quarter here. Walking has made me feel like I belong to my neighborhood, not just passing through it. I’ve discovered small businesses I didn’t know existed and have even had casual conversations with dog owners bringing their adorable golden retrievers out and about—something that never happens when I’m in a car. Most days, my walk to class is the only exercise I’ll get, so intentionally taking the time to walk instead of drive has been better for my health. Public transit is a different kind of experience. It requires more patience and isn’t always as enjoyable as being in nature outside, but it’s a very convenient alternative when it’s too hot to walk. I wish LA had cleaner transportation like in Japan, or quicker alternatives that are available in the bay or UCSD, but the bus system is usually reliable enough for now.

Practicing the “5 Rs”—refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle—helped me realize that recycling should actually be the last step in the waste-reduction process, not the first. Before this, I always thought I was doing my part by tossing items into the blue bin. But recycling, while important, doesn’t address the root problem: overconsumption and the endless production of disposable goods. While researching plastic for my research project, I learned that most plastic is not actually recycled; it’s usually pushed out from landfills and dumped into lower-income countries. Mixed plastics also make it very hard for plastic to be sorted correctly so that it can be reused in the first place. The first R, refuse, was both the most straightforward to apply. Saying no to plastic utensils, straws, or free promotional items required me to be more mindful and assertive, but it was easy as long as there was an alternative. However, there are definitely situations where you have no choice but to use some sort of plastic. When I buy bread at the grocery store, it’s going to come in a plastic bag regardless of what I choose. Reduce challenged me to examine what I was buying in the first place. I started asking myself: Do I really need this? Is there a lower-waste version? Should I really be eating another bag of chips anyways? Reuse and repurpose allowed me to get creative. I’ve always repurposed old jars as storage containers (my fridge currently has my overnight oats stored in a tomato sauce jar), cut up worn-out clothes into rags, and reused packaging from online orders as trash liners. Granted, I originally shifted into these habits to save money, but they help the environment as well.