Most of my readers know that I've refused to purchase an automobile for over a decade now. My lifestyle is perfect for this choice, as I don't need to cart kids around to soccer games and doctor appointments, nor do I need a vehicle for my work. When I need to get around without public transportation (grocery shopping for instance), I borrow my roommate's car. When I need to travel over state lines for an extended period, I usually rent a vehicle. And now I have a choice to rent a hybrid in most cases.

So I've learned how to adapt without a car; but when I don't live in a city like Chicago or New York - where there's plenty of public transportation - it's a huge adjustment. This country is car-friendly, and that limits my freedom as a person who doesn't own a car. While I could get into the psychosocial ramifications of living in such an environment, I'd rather point you to several trends that might pique your interest, especially as investments.

You might already suspect that I'm not going to advocate automobile investments for this article. Not that I'm against investing in automobile companies?it's just that I tend to see other opportunities that seem more exciting - at least to me. For instance, ten years ago you might have laughed at Carectomy, a Web site that focuses on 'extracting cars from humans.' Today that site makes sense, especially if you're interested in trends that support redesigned urban areas that are more pedestrian friendly.

A case in point: If you go to Walk Score and type in your address, you'll discover whether your neighborhood is pedestrian friendly or not. While I live on the outside perimeters of a city, my area is not pedestrian friendly as I live in an area that lacks sidewalks. Plus, I need to cross a six-lane road to walk to the local grocery store. While I could cross at the light, the light stays red long enough for me to trot across six lanes - not long enough to dawdle. But, my area does rank a 45 out of 100 as I do have access to a public park that's located about two miles from my door.

More tools will become available to people who don't want to or cannot afford to use automobiles, and you can get a glimpse of some of these innovations when you browse through Carectomy. But, while some individuals might claim the environment as a reason to refuse to drive a car, that's a weak excuse. Not that automobiles don't affect the environment?they do, and in huge ways. But, it's going to take much more to extract the number of automobiles from the road where it will really make a difference.

This is where redesigned urban areas come into play, and this is where the investment possibilities lie as well. Cities need to be redesigned because they aren't friendly to pedestrians, to slower electric cars, and to cyclists (as in bicycles, not motorcycles). For instance, my city is talking about creating pedestrian bridges over that six-lane highway so individuals who live on one side of the road can gain access to the shops on the other side of the road without placing a life in jeopardy.

Another addition includes bike paths in areas around the adjacent park, so individuals can ride their bikes safely to and from the park. And, while we have sidewalks that lead back to the park, there are no sidewalks that run parallel to the six-lane highway. All of this may change within the next two years, and I'm very interested in the materials that this city will use to accomplish these goals.

But, first I needed to know how construction companies made sidewalks, bridges, and bike paths. One resource I used to satisfy that curiosity was Wikipedia, and I'll get you started with their entry on sidewalks. I learned that sidewalks could be constructed from concrete, but that they can also be created from asphalt, stone, rubber, and/or brick. Of course, I had no idea about how concrete or asphalt is made, and I wondered about brick and whether the city could use recycled rubber for some areas.

So I conducted more research. I learned more about concrete from some publicly traded concrete companies. Concrete is comprised of water, sand, crushed stone, and air in proportions that make the concrete smooth and durable. I learned more about asphalt as well, a material that's been around so long that the ancient Sumerians used it for caulking and waterproofing. Asphalt is created from crude petroleum. In fact, some crude oils are asphalt. But, in most cases, oil wells supply the crude petroleum to oil refineries, where it is separated into its various components or fractions.

Recycled rubber seems ideal for sidewalks in areas like New York. This material resists buckling from changes in weather. If the trend to go pedestrian friendly remains strong nationwide, you can bet that many city planners will look to alternative construction materials that are budget friendly. The plus side to this option is that cities will conserve energy when they don't need to manufacture and replace sidewalks every spring.

The materials above represent just a fraction of the investment possibilities that can be found in the trend toward rebuilding a greener world. That world may be leaner and healthier as well, because it will "extract automobiles from individuals" in many cases. Just think how you'd look and feel if you lost a few thousand pounds. Your wallet may fall in love with you as well. Just take that gas money you would have spent and put it into a new investment?

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin