A greener journey to the city
A student who is moving to Leicester to study chose a unique way to transport her belongings – on a canal barge.
Clare Scott, who will be studying speech and language therapy, is keen to reduce her carbon footprint so decided to ship her items from Milton Keynes to Leicester along the Grand Union Canal.
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She said: "I've always enjoyed the canal and when I realised that Leicester is on the Grand Union Canal path I thought 'why can't I take my things in that way?'
"I made a few inquiries about using a barge and found a boat which is a floating stage and therefore has the space to carry my belongings. It's a more energy efficient way, too – something that's very important to me."
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The boat set off from near Clare's home in Willen and arrived in Leicester four days later.
She said: "I thought it was such a great idea – if the canals are there then we should be making a lot more use of them.
"I'm looking forward to starting my course at De Montfort and exploring new routes along the canal in Leicester."
Comments
by 4_Stroke
Saturday, September 22 2012, 6:51PM
“According to "livingonanarrowboat.co.uk" a narrow boat uses 1.5 litres per hour at cruising speed. At 4 mph that equates to 12 miles to the gallon. Not so green then.”
by westleic
Friday, September 21 2012, 4:48PM
“As far as I know a barge engine burns about a litre of diesel per hour so over four days it will be a lot more than the 5 litres (or less) of petrol/diesel you'd use to drive 50 miles up the M1.”
by Just_Saying
Friday, September 21 2012, 2:54PM
“Thanks jonger - I'd read somewhere that crossing the Atlantic in a cruise ship was less fuel efficient than flying. I guess this is totally different - hence my question.
When I came to Leicester Uni (from London) I shared a car with someone else from my school - maybe we had less stuff in those days!
Not sure why I got all the red arrows ??”
by jonger
Thursday, September 20 2012, 12:21PM
“Just_saying - she used the barge to transport her belongings so a shared car is not big enough, you have to compare it with a lorry journey.
I have a friend with a narrow boat (barge) and he told me it costs him about 40pence a day in diesel to run the engine he fills the tank twice a year - so I guess its a very efficient way of travelling that distance - it just takes a long time at 4mph.”
by Just_Saying
Thursday, September 20 2012, 11:47AM
“I'd be interested to see some real figures on this.
Is traveling by a barge slowly and burning fuel for 4 days really more efficient than traveling by (say) a shared car?
Anyone KNOW ??”