Question of the Week: What would convince you to change your driving habits?
Posted on June 30th, 2008 - 10:30 AMEach week we ask a question related to the environment. Please let us know your thoughts as comments. Feel free to respond to earlier comments or post new ideas. Previous questions.
Driving less, carpooling, and combining errands all mean less pollution. And with fuel prices rising, people are driving less, or driving smarter when they can. But many find it very difficult to drive less because of where they live or what they do.
What would convince you to change your driving habits?
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En español: Cada semana hacemos una pregunta relacionada al medio ambiente. Por favor comparta con nosotros sus pensamientos y comentarios. Siéntase en libertad de responder a comentarios anteriores o plantear nuevas ideas. Preguntas previas.
Actividades como el guiar menos, hacer carpool y combinar mandados todas contribuyen a reducir la contaminación. Mientras los precios del combustible están en alza, las personas están conduciendo menos y lo están haciendo de manera más inteligente siempre que pueden. Sin embargo, a veces se les dificulta guiar menos debido al lugar donde viven o por lo que hacen.
¿Qué le convencería para cambiar sus hábitos de guiar?
Tags: carpooling, cars, driving, driving less
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Question of the Week
June 30th, 2008 at 10:59 am
The availability of a public transit route between my apartment and the area near my office.
That’s it - just give me a route that doesn’t force me to go through downtown Greensboro (thus adding 90 minutes to my trip).
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June 30th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
If groceries weighed less, then I wouldn’t drive to the store. It’s 1.5 miles round trip, so I could do it on foot or bike.
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June 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
More public transit routes. I have to go to work, but would TOTALLY ride the bus if I could. At my last job, I could ride the bus and loved it. I could read, relax or even doze off! We need more routes.
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June 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
More schedule flexibility would be a big help. I like what they’re doing in Utah.
>> http://origin.sltrib.com/news/ci_9714564
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June 30th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Money.
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June 30th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Karen, check out the several online options for having groceries delivered to you.
If I had a really cool car, I’d drive more. As it is now, I’ve got a beater car and easy access to public transpo… so I don’t roll that often.
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June 30th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
A public transportation system that actually was well funded would convince me. I don’t have any other options at this point.
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June 30th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
There is nothing you could do to convince me to drive less. As it stands, I take public transportation or walk most everywhere I need to go. I put less than 1,500 miles annually on my car, and am shopping for a hybrid vehicle to replace my Jeep which will lower the emissions for the few miles where I do have to drive. In order to completely eliminate driving altogether, I would have to be provided with an income tax incentive that would compel me to take the bus or walk to places like the grocery store, home improvement or other retailers for foodstuffs, sundries, and other household items.
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June 30th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Two words: public transportation. If all metro areas had subways like DC I think car traffic would be reduced DRAMATICALLY. Even clean, reliable bus systems would help. DC got business people to use the Metro because they designed it to be clean and attractive for them. The same philosophy could be applied to buses as well.
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June 30th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Nothing. I’ll drive when and when I have to and have to deal with the high prices.
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June 30th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
My city, Columbus, Georgia, is very pedestrian un-friendly: sidewalks suddenly end or don’t exist in some areas, streets are hardly bicycle friendly, public transportation exists but is relatively useless and as developments sprawl away from downtown, some areas are difficult to reach without a car.
Being located near a military base (Fort Benning), the city often hosts military personnell who often will not have a car. It’s common to see large groups of uniformed service men and women walking the streets or trying to make their way along the shoulder of busy streets and highways. This is hardly a way for Columbus to show its expected “Southern hospitality.”
So, to answer the question, making the city pedestrian friendly would do a great deal towards encouraging myself and the good people of Columbus to change our driving habits.
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June 30th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I would like public transportation to be more available throughout the US. (I also think it should be free - the government should subsidize public transit instead of fossil fuel)
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June 30th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Try a cart with wheels.
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June 30th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Better public transportation in the long-term. In the short term, better flexibility from employers (adjusting hours to avoid peak traffic times, 4-day week, telecommuting, etc.)
Also, carpooling - I’m willing, but obviously I can’t force other people to cooperate with me. It takes some sacrifice on both sides.
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June 30th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
High prices of fuel has sparked my desire to purchase a motorcycle. I’m enjoying the bike, and I’m saving more than half of the fuel cost as compared to before I purchased the bike. Taking the bike two days per week will save me almost 2000.00 in fuel expense per year. My wife accused me of using that as an excuse a couple of years ago. She may have been right, but now it’s not an excuse, it’s a reason………..and a valid one. Did I mention that I’m enjoying the bike?
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Hmm…maybe thats why I walk. I hate getting into my car. Its expensive, rough, and takes so long to get through town. I would like to see big, shiny, fast trains come back. I really dont like flying. The airlines are not user friendly these days. Trains can roll right through a an electrical storm.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I have changed my driving habits considerably.
What makes it easier for me is decent public transportation.
What I would love to see is POLITE DRIVERS.
Don’t yell at walkers/cyclists, don’t try to run us off the road.
Be aware of us when turning.
Remember, between the mall and your car, YOU are a pedestrian, too.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Economics, economics, and economics.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
The price of fuel HAS changed my driving habits, I drive slower and less if at all possible.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Public transportation (period).
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
A new job closer to home. I can’t change the fact that I have to work so far away. However, if my company took my company truck or my gas card, I may be forced to find a new job because gas would be $350 a month.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Take train to work and school. So, if there were safe, high-quality recreational activities for my 11 year old in my neighborhood, regardless of cost, I could cut 50% additional driving right there. Sadly, no such luck.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
When the world and the United States of America comit to an enengy policy that recognizes there are limited supplies of all forms of energy and that demand growth can not increase forever.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I have driven little bitty, 4-cy cars since I bought my first car in 1972. Having paid the bills since then (car, gas and insurance), lived through a couple of energy crisises, and being painfully aware of “saving the planet”, I have always planned my routes and limited my driving to the essentials. I fill my tank every 3-4 weeks. I’m already doing my part and I started out “changing my driving habits.” Enough is enough with the extortion prices of gas.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
More casual work attire days on the job would be encouraging. Wearing a dry clean only suit kills my desire to bike or walk to work. Lugging a suit and heels to work in a back pack is equally unappealing.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Of course–the thing that would help me change my driving habits would be options for getting to and from where I need to be: bus, train, subway, bike paths…. There is no reason major cities like Las Vegas cannot have better public transportation than what we have. None. As well, we need differing going-to and leaving work times than the usual M-F, 8-5, in order to cut down on the many forms of congestion that we have. Thanks!
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Nothing.
I have to drive from city to city to make a living and my customers want to see me; therefore, I will be there.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
faster and reliable transist system. I found that most of the driving is not to and from work but hauling the kids to day care and sports activities. The schools should have good programs that the kids can enroll in and not only at high school. Use the schools buses to the fullest. I also find some of peak hour transit buses drive back empty. this is not efficient use of the buses. transit palnning should be under one state department.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Having public transportation that was fast enough to make a difference would increase public ridership.
In the rural areas of NJ and Eastern PA, the commute time to NYC is prohibitive. In many cases one must drive 1/2 hour to an hour to get to public transportation into NYC, which is another 2 hour trip.
There needs to be high speed esxpress trains.
People who use buses do so because they are cheaper than driving and paying parking.
Some take the ferry but that has become too expensive, only a few dollars less than paying for parking in NYC.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I have made some changes already in my driving habits, as I’m sure many Americans have done. But I would say the absolute solution is a Reasonable Priced, Clean and Safe Transportation Infrastructure. This infrastructure should be designed with loading stations in every direction of the city, i.e. (north, south,east, and west) by rail or bus. Whatever works best for city planning.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I live in the countryside so public transportation is never going to be an option for me. I need to convince my state of Oregon employer to trust me enough to allow me to telecommute from my home office one day a week. I have all the equipment I need, my job works fine with telecommuting, and the state has a policy - but my supervisor will not allow it. When will managers allow some flexibility to combat high commute costs?!?!?!?!
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
If Houston had better mass transit such as an extensive train network, I would use it to travel to work, the airport, etc. Unfortunately this is not the case. My commute is too far for walking or biking plus there is the safety factor. I signed up for NuRide but have found that there is little interest in carpooling in my direction as my commute is away from the city center. In fact, Houston has several regions where people work. I do try to plan my errands so that most are done on the way home from work.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I would drive at the speed that my vehicle gets the best mileage on the highway. Wind resistance goes up exponentaly with speed. Keep at the speed limit on highways or go 5 miles per hour less than posted as long as you do not interfer with traffic.
I have a manual transmission. Now I shift gears at a much lower RPM.
At times I go from first to third to fifth gear.
I keep my tires at the recommend pressure as denoted on the door
I changed spark plugs to a more efficient design and my mileage went up 5 miles per gallon.
I buy more things on the internet
I drive less and have started to use a bike
I waxed my car
I just purchased a all-wheel drive Subaru at get 27 MPG and stopped using my pick-up truck most of the time
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
More expensive fuel would convince me to change my driving habits.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
1. Motorcycling is more fun and cheaper than driving. However, weather and suits for meetings can limit the bike use. So I only do it when weather and schedule permits. But remember to be safe out there!
2. Carpooling with the spouse saves me about $15 a day, so we do that when we can. Fortunately she doesn’t need the car most days.
3. Bus service doesn’t work very well when you have meetings at various locations throughout the day. If I had an express route and no meetings, I’d take the bus.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
If we got public transportation in rural/suburbs.
If they made a car that seats 7, has 4-wheel drive, and has good gas mileage.
I have made changes by planning our daily trips and coordinating them with my husband to drive less and carpool and doing errands in an efficient manner.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Give all illegals a driver’s license. Then I’ll walk.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
living in rural america, we need bike trails or walks. there is no way to use alternate ways of transportation when you live 12 miles in the country and must come into town to work. if there were ways to commute safely on rural pathways, nearly half of our population would use walking, biking, etc instead of autos. guess we will have to wait and see or move to the city!
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Having lived in 14 states and in 21 total cities I have seen it all. However, I have lived in only one location where the city bus stop and time schedule were appropriate enough to use to go back and forth to work. While my wife and I enjoy Sunday afternoon drives in the country, we are not all that fond of driving around the city. So, on Saturday we line up all of the stops we need to make and make the rounds thereby cutting down wasted effort. Unfortunately, this is not possible when you have to make a doctor’s appointment and go to work.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
One thing to convince me to change my own driving habits would be businesses integrating business solution to make it easier for citizens to not have to drive as often or as far to do their business with them. For example, companies that provide copy services, etc to make it easier to perform the services mainly over the internet, or for businesses to entrust in and allow employees to due the bulk of the work at home, unless it is not an achievable objective for an employee to do assignment at home (ie, its a lab, or the employee is using monitoring stations to monitor some aspect of the production that cannot be monitored through a secured internet connection, etc) or for companies, governments, etc to emploee incentive programs for those who carpool and/or purchase and use environmentally friendly vehicles. Another thing is for businesses in the real estate arena to offer discounts or specials to those working or assoiated with a regional sector (such as a business, school, etc that requires that the citizen attend often on it’s grounds) that make it easier for that citizen to move to and/or reside in those areas.
In other words, in today’s society unfortunately money has made itself a prime determinate of a persons ability to survive. (Side note: people perceptions of who should and should not survive has become mind boggling since we see people being able to survive tremendously merely becuase of some talent granted to them that they were able to express at the right time in the right place whereas geniouses such as Steve Hawkings are left barely able to survive, as a member of the ONE organization I can attest to the concept that too much money sometimes appears to be placed to one place whereas too many other important places are left almost empty-handed) Becuase of this, when it becomes a monetary concern for individuals to engage in environmentally freindly driving practices (ie: it effects their ability to even make money, or it costs too much to engange in those practices, etc) it means that in order to be environmentally friendly, an individual has to compromise their own survival. This (except in the case of the few environmentalists out there that can see the environment as equal to their own selves) makes the individual immediately react as though the environment were their enemy and not their freind.
My two cents for today
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
You’re right on target with the fuel cost argument.
However, if you add scheduled maintenance and the cost of those soft tires that only last a few thousand miles, you may find gas will have to be closer to $10 a gallon before you break even with your car’s $/mile operating expense (comparing the same items).
But don’t tell your wife that part - stick with your original story. It’s more fun on 2 wheels, even if it does cost more.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Working from home would change my driving habits, but that is not an option my employer allows.
Also, I would consider riding my bike if it wasn’t so dangerous. Most of the roads where I live have little or no shoulder and the drivers don’t allow enough room.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I wouldn’t have to be convienced… just give me another option that is more enviornmental friendly and I would do it.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
My short term habits have changed, I recently purchased a motorcycle and have begun commuting with a co-worker. Long term the real problem is not lack of energy, its a lack of political will to use and explore our own resources (ie drilling in ANWR and the continental shelf, increasing our refining capacity, and building nuclear power plants). Our national NIMBY mentality has to stop. If we elect a Democrat to the white house we’ll all be riding mules and living in row houses in the inner city in 4 years.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I know price is becoming an issue, but rationing would really get me to change. Anyone with kids knows they aren’t very price sensitive - getting them to give up an extra activity at night or on the weekends can only be accomplished if I can say, “sorry, I can’t get anymore gas this month”.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Better Public transportation in the West Valley of Phoenix Metro area. A work week of 4 ten hour shifts would help my driving by cutting out 30 miles of driving per week. Do more shopping on line rather than driving to the store.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
bring the national speed limit back to 55 mph
change the gas pumps back to literss
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
How do you stop activities like working out at the wellness center so you can ride the bus? Which is more important, taking the bus and not working out or driving and working out?
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
The availability of a public transit route between my home and the area near my office. One of the issues here is the public transportation system is cannot access the military instalation due to the security of the base. Thus we are having to make other choices. I try to ride my motor cycle when the weather permitts. That works in the summer but, effective Oct 1 they are prohibited for use on the base. So we’re stuck with seasonal options.
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June 30th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Please tell me you’re not honestly advocating gasoline rationing. Do you want to drive our economy into a depression, cost literally hundreds and thousands of jobs, and cause violent riots all over the country?
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June 30th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
What would convince me is the folks at EPA actually coming up with mileage requirements that make sense (why in the world do SUV’s get a free pass???). Then I could own a vehicle that gets good mileage, is affordable, and everyone on the road has the mileage requirements.
And another thing - why do some states require vapor collection devices when others do not…. if I have to pay extra in my state, then every state should have to pay extra for that…. it helps the air whether it is a non-attainment area or not doesn’t it?
And another thing - if Al Gore can jetset around the globe in his G4 or whatever and have no concern with the number of 15000 pound armored SUV’s he chooses to parade within, then why should I listen to his rhetoric?
I am making changes today in my driving habits. I carpool once a week, but we will still need to run the kids to hockey practices and travel team games. Can’t get around those issues.
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June 30th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I feel my driving habits need no changing. I have been a licensed
driver for over 35 years without any tickets or any accidents. I think I should be commended for this, don’t you?
Thank you!
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June 30th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Doesn’t anyone acknowledge the hypocracy of the EPA blog asking us citizens this question after Administrator Johnson denied California’s right to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles under the Clean Air Act?
EPA has, for the first time in its history, prevented a state from having a cleaner environment. Rather than EPA acting responsibly to assure that less polluting cars are produced, it’s blog site asks what you can do for your country. Ask not EPA, your hypocracy is showing.
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June 30th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I think many of your bloggers have it right:
- Pedestrian friendly cities
- Access to high quality public transportation
- Pressure on auto manufacturers to improve mileage for vehicles
- Smarter fuel policies and investment in renewable energies
- Flexible work arrangements
- Urban revitalization to draw people back from the burbs to our thriving employment centers
Holistic solutions (little bites) are the way.
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June 30th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I live in the New Jersey suburbs about 20 miles from Manhattan. Since I work at home, I have little need to drive. On weekends, we sometimes drive into the city. We would prefer to take mass transit, but this typically involves three trains, NJ Transit to Hoboken, the Path train to Manhattan, and then a subway to wherever we want to go to. Round trip, that’s six trains in one evening, which is a bit much even for committed environmentalists. There should be an easier way to get from our town into the greatest city in the world. I don’t necessarily want to see more train tracks, but more trains running on the tracks we have and more attractive schedules would help.
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June 30th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
If good public transportation was available I would drive less. I live only 10 minutes from our downtown, the way our current bus transportation is set up it would take me two hours to get there! Doesn’t make sense! Better bus routes, a light rail system between close cities and more Amtrak stops for cross country.
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June 30th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I have already changed my habits. I combine shopping trips and errands. I drive slower, and use my cruise control more.
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June 30th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I have changed.I quite my job,the hourly rate didn’t pay for the gas to go any longer.So now I work 3 part-time and walk to work and saving money as well.
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June 30th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Let the gas prices continue to climb. Take the government subsidies away and let the actual price of gasoline show at the pump.
Over the next 3-5 years more people will start to move closer to their work environment and take advantage of public transportation, their bikes or walking.
The transition period would be difficult, but in the end, I believe allowing the free-market to work is best for everyone.
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June 30th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Public transportation. The money the government currently puts into roadways and roadway maintenance could be spent towards public transportation designed similar to Washington D.C. and many European cities. If more people had public transportation available to them our roadways would not need as much money for maintenance. By transferring the money towards public transportation the government can play a positive role in the environment.
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June 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
eventhen the fuel price is hiking every day the people would not change their driving habit. i actually dont have a car. if at all i am owing a car i would reduce the driving habit to reduce fuel expenses and also to save the environment
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June 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I think that if we had better public transportation, it would be a big plus for me, and also, have all schools including private ones, have a bus system to pick up and drop off kids at or near their homes. Another plus would be to allow people to do more working from home and better urban planning such as making streets more biker friendly. Not too many of our streets have bike lanes.
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June 30th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I’ve made the change and feel good about it! I ride my bike 80% of the time. My work is flexible, and is only a 4 mile bike ride away if I do need to go in. I take my son to school on a tandem and Whole Foods is around the corner, yes it is more expensive, but I save a lot of money on gas, so it evens out. My way of life didn’t happen overnight, I planned ahead (way ahead) and followed through. I planned where I live according to its distance from the train station and Whole Foods. I’m not well off by any means, in fact I just recently discontinued food stamps, so please don’t make lack of money your excuse. Empower yourself, take control of your life, no one is going to make these changes for you.
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June 30th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
If I could bike safely to work, I’d drive less. As it is, I have to cross an interstate highway. I go out of my way to cross at a safer spot but the road I have to take is 45 mph and has no shoulder.
Light rail or a train would be nice too. But, we’re so small that’ll never happen.
A bus route exists but buses aren’t always on schedule and the ride takes 45-60minutes versus 15 min if I drive. If the buses traveled my route more frequently and if the ride took less time, I’d definitely ride the bus.
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June 30th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Its a shame that we aren’t drilling off coast, in the mountains and Alaska for Oil. We send men to the moon, but aren’t able to extract enough crude oil to meet our demands? Oh, thats right, our own congress won’t let us take care of ourselves by drilling right here at home and telling the middle east to keep their oil. We should be exporting oil like Canada!
Al Gore? Interesting that the college that did a study on his carbon footprint of his home last year, and then, measured again this year, and low and behold, he increased his own carbon footprint at home alone by 10%! Imagine how much he is depositing by all the private plane flights he takes? Oh, I guess his own medicine is supposed to apply to everyone but him! I’m glad he is not this countrys President, because leaders lead by example!
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June 30th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
1. more options and flexibility in public transportation.
2. Re-zoning so we can have stores closer to home
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July 1st, 2008 at 12:53 am
Trains are also more energy-efficient, and their pollution is at ground level, not directly into the higher atmosphere. Among cars, trains, and planes the efficiency/ least polluting means are rated from most efficient/cleanest to least efficient/dirtiest: trains, cars, planes. I live in northern New Jersey, and am lucky enough to be able to commute to work and walk to the stores/bank/post office. I currently don’t own a car, just rent when I REALLY need/want to. It’s freeing in some ways, confining in others.
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July 1st, 2008 at 1:01 am
Hear, hear! RThe biggest problem, IMHO, is that everyone seems to think that growth is always good, and more growth is even better. When will we be satisfied with what we have, and not need the newest items, the status brands, bigger houses, flashier and more powerful cars, etc.? Jim Merkel, author of Radical Simplicity, says that a world population of 6 billion, for every person on earth to have the same standard of living as the average United States citizen would require the resources of 5.5 planet earths–and that leaves nothing left over for any other species. Sobering.
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July 1st, 2008 at 1:05 am
Scott:
Good idea. My sister is a single mother with two teenagers, and hates food shopping. She uses a delivery service and it saves stress as well as gas and car wear-and-tear. She is pleased with the quality of the items delivered abd can place her order online whenever it is convenient.
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July 1st, 2008 at 1:25 am
I’m not a mother, so in some ways I really don’t have a right to comment on this. However, my sister is a single mom living on a limited budget (two teen to put through college), which was even tighter in the kids’ preschool days, when the most important thing to her was being able to stay at home until the youngest went to 1st grade.
She’s had to say no to her kids; they can’t have the newest toy, the status brand, the licensed products (which she and I grew up thinking weren’t the best, anyway). She did find the funds for dancing lessons, soccer, hockey, and golf (HS team).
I didn’t get a bicycle right when I asked it, it went on the Christmas list. When my parents finally bought a color television, it was after everyone I knew had one, and it was the major family Christmas present.
If we can’t pass on our priorities on to our kids, or at least make them aware of the decisions we all have to make as adults without endless resources, how will they ever make their own decisions when they become adults? I’m really proud of my level-headed niece and nephew (the latter of whom would prefer to have his “beater” car fixed than replace it because it’s HIS car [yes, he borrowed his grandmother's 1996 Jaguar, which she bought used, to go to the prom and make an impression, but the main reasons she agreed is that he usually asks for so little and she trusts his driving and judgement]).
It’s natural for kids not to be price-sensitive; it’s the parents’ repsonsibility to teach them–that’s how they learn to be responsible consumers and responsible citizens.
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July 1st, 2008 at 1:28 am
Congratulations! Your safety, and presumably speed, records are unimpeachable. Are your auto environmentnal standards as high? (Not meaning to be holier-than-thou or critical, just asking for clarification on an issue that you did not address.)
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July 1st, 2008 at 5:45 am
my driving habits would change if there were a mass transit choice that was at least comparable to driving. right now my choices are drive (15 minutes) or take the bus (45 minutes with one bus change).
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July 1st, 2008 at 6:23 am
The price of gas has already caused us to cut back on driving. Basically, we have a budget and gas is one of the items. To stay within budget, we have had to reduce our driving by almost 50%. We cut out extra trips to the store, driving on weekends, etc. We are fortunate to have short commutes to work. Obviously, people with long commutes cannot cut back by 50%, but most Americans do have some excess miles they can trim off. Hang in there. Gas prices will drop as demand goes down. Look for significantly lower prices this fall.
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:12 am
Unfortunately, we have become a very selfish society and are quite obnoxious if the slightest bit inconvenienced. Look how many people still complain about the delays due to extra security at airports to prevent another 9/11. As sad as it is, people will not voluntarily cut back their consumption. Public transportation won’t be the answer, as we say we’ll use it, but only if it stops right at our front door and drops us off right at the front door of our workplace. And, only if it takes less time than it does to drive in personally. We’re a spoiled country, we all want everything, and we want it all right now. Our children are being raised to have even higher expectations of instant gratification. While our parents and grandparents were willing to work and save to buy the things they wanted, and would gladly make sacrifices if it was in the best interest of their beloved county, those values are quickly vanishing. You can’t even get people to go out and vote anymore. Oh, they’ll complain all day about the state of things, but don’t expect them to vote to try and make a difference. “It’s all about me” should be our national motto. The only solution to this problem will be mandated concessions.
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:18 am
It’s time for employers to start doing their part. With today’s technology, telecommuting and flextime should be offered whenever feasible for the position. Employees tend to increase their productivity via these alternatives. We’re all struggling to be “super moms” with having to work (today’s economy virtually eliminates the June Cleaver option), get our kids school and to their varied activities, grocery shopping, etc. Let me work at home at my desk in my “jammies,” and you’ll get more productivity that you could imagine, and a devoted employee for life!
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:35 am
What are the incentives being offered by the Federal and State governments for the individual/private resident to go green?
I have looked at the prices and going green remains quite expensive. How do we get help?
Thank You.
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:37 am
No convincing needed. The current and escalating price of gasoline has me driving less by combining errands, or just delaying errands until I have enough to combine. I am now driving the speed limit which has resulted in literally a 2 mpg increase. I also carpool everyother day which represents a real 50% cost savings in commuting costs. I would absolutely use public transportation if it made sense. Unfortunately public transportation where I live relative to work would add 2 hours per day to my current average 2 hour commute.
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:43 am
Well here in the rural countryside of Maine there are little opportunities for “public transit.” The State sponsors an Internet database for those interested in car-pooling called Go-Maine. I singed up several years ago, but no one from my area travels the same route or time frame. In five years there was only one possibility.
Five years ago I drove a minivan the 60+ mile round trip to work. Over time I have downsized to a midsized car, economy car, and now a compact 1991 Geo Metro (hard to get parts but it still runs). I also had the opportunity to change my work schedule from five 8 hour days to four 10 hour days. Fortunately for me a coworker from a northern office commutes past my house once a week to the southern office that I work at. The result is that I only use my Geo three days a week to travel to work.
Concerning vacation travel, last year we travel throughout New England from June to October. This year we might make one instate trip.
Additionally my wife has horses that she pleasure rides on (logging) trails behind our house. Now she uses the horses to ride the eight miles to our local town to pick up groceries, doctor’s visits, and prescriptions. She typically will make at least one trip a week, but sometimes up to three trips.
Here’s a local tong-in-check conversation: “Vacation land yup that’s Maine. Don’t need to go no where to have fun we’re it! But I tell ya if food stamps could buy a bus ticket we’d all be outa here.” From local comedian Tim Samples.
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:43 am
My driving habits, I believe, are driven (ha) by what I have to do that day. I try to combine trips, eliminate those that are not necessary. Public transportation that is reliable, reasonable, and are not time intensive would be good.
In my state, most people are not willing to carpool, independence is a MUST here. I would like some flexibility to work from home but that is not an option either.
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:52 am
Combining errands. Having public transportation close to home.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:03 am
I’ve been riding the bus for 28 years, very few miles per year on my cars (even got insurance company odometer audits 2-3 times!). So getting to and from work is NOT a driving issue for me. Errands and around town is. To change driving habits related to this activity, I’d like to see more motorcycle friendly parking, and more bicycle friendly routes (off the main highways, which around where I live is border-line suicide), along with bicycle parking. Also, I shop a lot on the internet and have many goods delivered right to my door. No driving at all by me, UPS and FedX still use diesel fuel.
Finally, I was researching dumping my gas-hog 1989 F-150 for a good used Tanaka (spelling?) mini-truck (imported from Japan). These trucks have 600cc water cooled engines in them and are rated for 1/2 ton and get bout 30 MPG (unloaded). But, since they do not pass all the USA “safty” and “emission” standards I cannot get one licensed for road use in my state. They are sold as off-road “ATVs”. I assume if they made them TO pass all the safety and emission standards in the USA, most normal people would not be able to afford them.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:05 am
I already carpool. I would like to see increased use of rail transit.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:07 am
1.5 miles round trip is nothing. The weight of groceries shouldn’t prevent you from making such a short trip by foot (or especially bike, where weight is hardly an issue). Here are some tips: get a cart to carry your groceries in - these are very common in countries where urban people have to transport purchases by foot; go to the store more often so you buy less each time; if you have children, have them come along to give you a hand.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:35 am
Single mom here,
I have to ferry the kids around as well as myself so that often rules out car pools. I have had 4 different jobs in the 10 years I have owned my home. It wouldn’t have been good to move the kids’ school four times so I commuted.
Now that my youngest is a high school senior, I plan to move closer to my current job once she graduates.
In the Philadelphia suburbs, mass transit is all about getting people into and out of the city. It takes forever to go from one suburb to another suburb because you have to go into the city and then back out. This might have worked a long time ago but more people live and work in different counties outside the city. They just didn’t keep up.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:40 am
The availability of public transportation between my daughter’s daycare and my office. The Richmond Virginia metropolitan area is woefully lacking in public transit options.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:42 am
Would love to convert to 4 10-hour days to save on mileage and fuel costs since I have a long commute but our state governor seems to think that some of the state supervisors are not capable of managing the time and attendance so our request was denied. Our human resources office told us that the”high price of gas is not justification.”
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:43 am
I don’t want to change my driving habits.
I want a Federal Government that gets out of the way. Let us drill here in America so we have sufficient oil of our own and we are not dependent upon foreign countries. Stop talking about absurd plans to tax alleged excess profits and redistributing such taken money. Let the great American private industry lead us through growth and prosperity. The Constitution does not obligate the Federal Govt to protect us from ourselves.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:57 am
Huge tax incentives from the government would be great. Maybe free installation of a CNG pump or charge system for alternative fuel vehicles. Free registrations? Gas saver program through a special credit card that tallies the number of gallons you use. How about CHEAPER RAIL, guys??? It’s still cheaper to drive to NYC from Buffalo for 4 people than to take an AMTRAK train.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:59 am
In my travels, I have seen in large cities in Europe and Asia a well established Mass-Transit system. Not just trains, but Hi-Speed transit (propelled by electro-magnets) that not only offer an alternative to reduce pollution, but as a faster method to get to where you want to be. I think that we could learn a lot based on what has already been established. Start with Major Cities and move outward, perhaps linking the US in a new era (new ground based tech.) similar to how it was done 100 years ago.
The key difference is acceptance of how ‘one’ is to travel and whom they travel with. In the USA (my home), it still has a view of not being safe, that it is unsanitary, not convenient and just out-of-date. I have listened to comments that people generally do not like to travel with others because that is the way they are used to traveling. Of course this is a generalized statement, but perception is reality and that drives today’s behavior.
In my home State, they have been talking about a train linking two major cities (seems like forever, at least 10 years). Meanwhile I have not seen traffic times and accidents increase more now than ever. At some point, something has to ‘give’. Just ask residents of Chicago, L.A., NYC, Miami, Toronto (Canada), Atlanta just to name a few.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:03 am
Nothing, no alternatives that make sense. This country is spread out, not like Western Europe. The economy and country was laid out to take advantage of cheap energy. If we all move to the cities and leave all the country as farm land. Maybe it would work, however that is about that is about as likely as a frog not bumping his backside as he hops.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:07 am
During the first time that the gas prices increased (about 2005) I stopped driving my Ford Ranger to work and started driving my old Honda Accord with a stick shift. It routinely gets 25 MPG. I have NEVER owned an SUV. I considered them a gross waste of money.
This time I don’t have an answer, but I may be taking more vacation to reduce gas costs during peak gasoline season.
Something to consider: Reduced gas consumption will reduce traffic and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Something employers could do is adopt a 9/80 schedule or a 4 day work week.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
I already carpool, but I would like to take the bus more. Where I live (Cincinnati), public transit is hard to use. Would take me more than an hour to get to work when I can drive there in 15 minutes.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
I wish my company would consider allowing folks to work from home at least a few days a week, that was would help considerably. I live in one town and work in Little Rock, only a 15 mile commute but now I run my errands during my lunch break when needed instead of driving to Little Rock on the weekends. Why waste the gas when I am already here during the week.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
Have public transporation more available in the city-there isn’t a bus that goes directly by me-also longer operating hours including weekends
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Public trans. That would be great. Trains like Europe that were efficient. AND a society that wasn’t so perfectionist and crazy about time and instant everything. Go back a bit to the 20’s or so for the environment’s sake. Keep the good habits, redo the bad ones.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:27 am
How about publically admitting that we are sending our youth to fight in a war to secure our oil supplies, and that wasting oil is an insult to their sacrifice? How about aggressive enforcement of speed laws against those who waste oil by speeding, and stigmatizing people who buy big trucks and SUV’s they don’t need whith bumper stickers that say “Our children are dying so that I can drive this truck”? How about a warning sticker on the visor of any vehicle that gets less than 30 mpg that says “Warning: Operation of this vehicle may contribute to the death of millions of persons less than 4′11” in height.”
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:32 am
My job is 25 miles away from home, so I have always ran errands before going home. We have a small business, so sometimes it is still necessary to run errands on Saturday. It’s too far to bike and I have to dress up for my position. I would love to find a job closer to home, but the salaries are not comparable. I have begun using the method of “coasting” up to stop signs whenever possible and I have always driven the speed limit.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:35 am
Its easy to demand more public transportation, but government also faces economic realities. Buses and subways can’t go everywhere and they are not free to operate. The problem is that suburban development fails to create population densities conducive to public transit.
And to answer the question, I drive fairly minimally, but I drive fast. I’m trying to shift to drive slower because that saves significant gas. There should be some public awareness of the gas savings resulting from going 55 or 60 instead of 75.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:37 am
better access to public transportation. I used to live in Ann Arbor, a very walkable city, but still owned a car because if I was going more than a few blocks–especially in the winter–it was just too painful to walk. Now that I live in Washington DC, I have given up my car completely (it’s back home in MI–not even around “just in case”) and take public transportation everywhere. Although our winters are decidedly less cold than in MI, anyone who has been here between June and October know that the heat in DC is just as bad as the cold in MI.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:41 am
Having the previous comments on the need for better public transportation systems, I would like to add a couple of other thoughts that are, I believe, pertinent to the topics of excessive driving and high fuel prices.
In my home city and state, the city and countly plan approvers have never seen a plan they could refuse. Each new residential development is farther and farther from needed services such as schools, grocery stores, shopping, available public transport etc. Get the picture? Why are we not requiring new developments to have these services within reasonable walking or safe biking distance as part of or prior to approval? Why are are still working with the outdated model that builds everything around the automobile?
Secondly, while the classic supply and demand equation is causing some upward pressure on pump prices, what is equally apparent is that oil has become the new “dot.com” darling for speculators. Starting with the days of “trickle down” economic policies where the theory is that if the rich get richer they will share some of it with the rest of us, we now have a huge number of people with enormous disposable incomes who produce nothing but simply move money around… looking to buy low and sell high, producing even more wealth…for themselves.
I doubt families cutting back to make ends meet are speculating in $140/barrel oil.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:46 am
I would change my driving habits if everyone could get on the same page about how to conserve. Some people drive gas saving vehicles and others will not give up their SUV’s. But the people with the SUV’s expect the gas prices to go down.
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July 1st, 2008 at 10:01 am
Fuel prices already have. I have to drive due to the length of my commute and lack of public transit, but I’ve really cut back when I can. I don’t leave for lunch, combine errands, do as much as possible within a few miles of my house.
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July 1st, 2008 at 10:34 am
Brandon, your attitude is exactly why we are still using fossil fuels to provide energy for our transportation. When Americans’ voices are united, we can accomplish so much. I am ecstatic that our gas prices are >$4/gallon and hope it gets to $6/gallon! Have you noticed how less-congested the roads are at all times of the day? They are! Have you noticed how the average-Joe is talking about something important in terms of energy conservation. People are so wasteful. I adjusted my lifestyle post 1979 when the first oil embargo hit us. I conserve but haven’t really changed anything about the quality of my life…I’m just a responsible citizen of the earth. Brandon, wait until you get to experience the alternative gas pump assignment system (we had it in the 1989’s): Even-numbered license plates fill up on Mon/Wed/Fri and Odd-numbered license plates fill up on Tues/Thurs/Sat (can’t remember what happened for Sundays). Anyway, this is an opportunity for us! Let’s see what kind of leadership our new president brings to the table
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July 1st, 2008 at 10:41 am
Bobby, why do you feel that you have to wait for others to change their driving habits before you will change yours. Maybe the SUV drivers are hanging their clothes out to dry, don’t water their yards, have all energy efficient light bulbs, and keep their air conditioner set at 73 degrees. Why don’t you focus on what you can do to make a difference. Your actions may inspire others. Maybe the SUV-driver can’t unload the car because nobody wants it but they have modified their driving behavior to drive fewer miles. Anyway, to each their own in terms of addressing fuel conservation. I am ecstatic that statistics are showing that Americans have driven MILLIONS of miles less than the same time last year. That’s the kind of behavior that will wake up the ‘powers that be’…. maybe the automobile manufactureres will give us the kind of car we want - a car that uses a minimum amount of fossil fuel and accentuates the use of renewable energy…Solar/Wind/Hydro that feeds our Electric Grids so we can fuel up from our garage!!!! It’s not a bad solution is it? Watch the documentary: “Who Killed the Electric Car” then tell me that you will wait for others to adjust their driving habits before you will change yours.
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July 1st, 2008 at 10:47 am
In my country, the car population has increased as fast as economy,and more and more people have been expecting to drive their own vehicles out and home,so we can see the big problem is getting clear,that is air pollution.
For myself, the awareness of necessity to protect the environment will convince me to change my driving habits to the more environment-friendly one.
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July 1st, 2008 at 11:08 am
I can’t change how much I drive to work; it’s 40 miles each way on a fairly rural/small-town stretch of interstate. I’m getting registered for carpooling, but that’s the only other option I have.
Running errands around town, though, I’d be thrilled if there were more & better bike lanes so I could ride the 2 miles to the grocery, video store, library, bank, etc.
I’m somewhat used to riding in traffic in a bike-friendly town, but in my new zip code I wouldn’t call it bike-friendly so I don’t feel safe. It would be great if there were a way to educate people that bicyclists are smug superior-types getting in the way of their motor vehicle.
I do love my car, but I hate having to spend so much time in it to run small errands. Wastes money (gas) and time!
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July 1st, 2008 at 11:10 am
Wayne, why don’t you think out of the box a little bit. We can stay as wide-spread as we want to…however, why don’t we consider other fuel methods such as those that can be garnered by the Sun (solar)/Wind/ Hydro (water). Harness the energy from natural sources, fuel our electric grids & we can use more electric energy to fuel our cars versus relying on fossil fuel. Rent the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car” and you will find out how complicated America is in terms of who makes & breaks decisions that affect the average American! If Congress doesn’t want something to happen…it won’t! If the BIG oil companies don’t want something to happen…it won’t! If the BIG 3 car manufactureres don’t want something to happen…it won’t! If the president doesn’t want something to happen (oil interests, $$$, etc)…it won’t. Rent the documentary or buy it off Amazon and maybe you will have a slightly different view.
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July 1st, 2008 at 11:14 am
Richard, 2005 wasn’t the first time that gas prices increased…go to the Internet and search the OPEC oil Embargo that took place in the 1970’s and how America responded, then take a look at what happened when Regan took office as president…we went backwards after 1985 & those actions as well as recent governmental actions/inactions have put us where we are today. Rent the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car” and your eyes will be opened. I agree with your 9/80 schedule and 4-day workweek of 10-hour days. Sometimes the most common-se sense answers will just never happen. Maybe after you see the documentary, you will “have an answer”… Happy Trails to You.
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July 1st, 2008 at 11:18 am
Dan, you are my kind of person!!! Are you a ‘child of the 60’s or 70’s??? I agree with you, we are in Iraq over oil supplies, Americans waste oil by the millions of barrels & cry about the price of gas - are they crying about our injured men & women coming back from Iraq…are they crying about those who died in Iraq??? I am confounded about the lack of interest our college-students have in this issue? The Gen Xers & Millenials are so caught up in consumerism & American Idol, they are missing an opportunity to make a difference. Dan, take some time this weekend and watch the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car”…you will see today’s situation in a very different light.
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July 1st, 2008 at 11:27 am
To all of those who will read this blog, rent or buy the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car”…it’s an eye opener. All the great ideas in the world (and on this blog) won’t happen if the-powers-that-be don’t want it to happen. There’s a force that has kept us beholding to the American Car Manufactuers and the Oil Companies.
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July 1st, 2008 at 11:32 am
Promote more convenient and less expensive alternatives. Mobility = freedom, so any alternative needs to be significantly cheaper and more convenient than driving a car. Most people won’t change just to be “green”, unless there’s more “green” kept in their pockets!
Here are a few ideas:
(1) Only charge single-occupied automobiles for toll roads and bridge tolls. Some states do this already at certain times of day, such as commute hours. It needs to be done all the time, so people always think “carpool”.
(2) Offer tax breaks to those who use and have receipts for public transportation.
Convenience is usually sacrificed when carpooling or using public transit, so it better be cheaper - or most get out of their cars.
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July 1st, 2008 at 11:54 am
“Ditto” to what “Winstons Girl” said.
Unfortunately, lack of planning by local, state, and federal government entities DOES constitute an emergency for us all! SNAFU!
The failure of responsible entities to institute public transit or to support private mass transit business - especially via rail - along with graft, special interests, etc. - added to the dismal lack of initiative and knowledge needed to design, establish, and maintain workable public transit leads one to the inevitable conclusion that such is an utopia, never to see the light of day.
To, finally, answer the question, I’d give up my auto in a NY minute if I had a reliable, flexible, and FAST public system, running at least 4 times/hour during rush times that would get me to work in the same or less time than my 30-minute solitary automobile commute from a small town outside the metropolis in which I work. Failing this, telecommuting would be perfect for anyone with a position like mine, but that, too, is unlikely as my employer (state government) seems more interested in counting heads each day than it is in relieving congestion, decreasing pollution, and giving back the $2.50/gallon lost in real income (or putative income) by the run-up in gasoline. Such a rebate doesn’t even account for increased food, housing, and utility costs secondary to increased direct fuel costs.
SO… what CAN we do? As I see it, we can only change small behaviors related to personal travel. Currently, my husband and I run errands together; we entrain errands, carefully planning our routes; we are lucky enough to be able to have bought a very small, more fuel efficient auto. When possible, we stay at home one weekend day/week (a GREAT perk).
It is indeed unfortunate that our efforts will not and CANNOT make up for even one round trip to the city (30 miles each way x 2 people = 120+ miles/day) with its attendant pollution and increased financial burden - not to mention the never-to-be regained lost time - from driving a solitary 15,000 dangerous miles or, to look at it another way, those 250+ (60 miles/ hour if we’re lucky) unproductive hours per year … and they ask why we risk our lives talking on cell phones while driving?
Jannbeau
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July 1st, 2008 at 12:00 pm
there are several key enablers of habitual driving:
capacity of the roads,
supply of fuel,
sustainable driving habits (not crashing),
supply of affordable vehicles,
scrap yards,
somewhere to park.
It seems to me that initiatives related to road use pricing, fuel pricing, driver training and mass production/disposal of vehicles have all failed to transmit the true cost of driving to the driver.
Deleting parking spaces, except for those who are disabled or driving a bus, would be a relatively untested way to inspire alternative provision. My city has almost nowhere to park except on the outskirts. Bus services, cycle lanes and delivery services have flourished. But the reason for not building car parks everywhere is just an accident of history.
…car parks can be dug up, road side parking can be turned into cycle lanes or bus lanes, car park owners could become the entrepreneurs they always dreamed they would be.
Does anyone know what proportion of the land area of their city is devoted to car parking?
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July 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
More public transport, in particular rail transport, would get a lot of cars off the road.
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July 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! Most major cities have a system, smaller communities often do not. And, a high speed rail system across the U.S. would be wonderful. If I could get rid of my car I would. Please, someone help us get around with good public transportation!
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July 1st, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Reduce my taxes, permanently.
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July 1st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Twenty years ago, I chose to live in an old compact neighborhood where I can bike 3 miles to work, take my kids to daycare in a bike trailer, do most errands and social calls on foot or by bike, and take a nearby bus to work on those few days when the streets are too icy for biking. We use our car mainly for a few weekend trips and one or two longer vacations, although we often take spring break vacations by train.
However, we could easily have gotten a second car and driven everywhere. Our choice had nothing to do with economics, and everything to do with a respect for the fact that our planet’s fossil fuel resources are finite, and that our nation’s air quality is often unhealthy because of our over-use of these fuels. We regularly join with others in demanding more adn better accommodations for bicyclists, and have succeeded in many ways.
It would take smarter voting by all Americans, and bolder decisions by EPA administrators and other political and non-appointed adminstrators, to enable us to drive even less than we currently do.
It’s pretty evident from scanning the comments here that a large portion of Americans are about ready to bike more, demand less car-intensive land use decisions, or use efficient rail or bus transit, and that is encouraging.
However, to accomplish this will require that our nations citizens elect representatives with the vision and courage to LEAD by example, and to make decisions that will shape our urban areas and transportations systems into something much more energy efficient as well as and human- and planet-friendly.
Finally, when EPA listens to its science advisors and establishes air quality standards that better protect human health, we need to be able use those standards as a forcing function to further reduce transportation pollution.
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July 1st, 2008 at 4:52 pm
The way Los Angeles is lay out: business areas, residential areas, shopping areas, etc., makes it difficult at best to coordinate what one has to get accomplished in a day with someone else such that it would make car pooling, on a consistant basis, workable.
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July 1st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I think if cities would have built thinking around public transportation (metro, buses, fast trains) we wouldn’t have such amount of suburbs and isolated homes. Now it is difficult for those who chosed living in that areas to save money and not contaminate due to they are too far from simple groceries, schools, church, etc,.
It is even difficult going for shopping without thinking to drive a car in a big-medium size citie. They are not small groceries, printers, small bakery, small retail shop, repair furniture shops, meat shop, fish shop, library, book shop, coffee shop etc. next to our neighborhood. We have to drive a lot to get a simple donut or to gather our friends.
We have shipped everything to mall’s. What about the skill town citie?
Shouldn’t we start thinking that we really need a public transportation that works next to our homes, so we will save a lot of money in insurance’s car, car accidents, repairs, oil change & maintance (lead acid batteries, antifreeze, lead wheel weights, water used in car wash, ), gas, meaning all together waste of money, resources and sometime people plus we contaminate more and more.
We can carpool but our politicians should be the ones who really need to make the step forward.
We are just ready to follow them, aren’t we?
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July 1st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Nothing would get me to change my driving habits because I ride a bicycle. My blood pressure is spot on 120/80. My heart rate is 38. I’m 43YO and I rarely get sick or have to go to the hospital. I require no prescriptions. I ride 14 miles one-way, not because gas is expensive but because it’s the only way that makes sense when you look at the big picture. What’s open heart surgery costing these days? How much do “life-saving” drugs cost car and motorcycle commuters who are too out of shape to pedal the average 3-5 miles one-way to work? I’ve taken off from work at the same time as a co-worker in a car who was coming over to dinner. Guess what? I arrived five minutes after he did.
Roads are too dangerous? Yeah, I agree. But too many people complain when police write tickets, so traffic enforcement divisions across the nation are chronically undersized for the job at hand. Bottom line__We don’t want safe roads. We want big cars and cheap gas and everybody needs to get the hell outta our way. In other words, we deserve whatever is coming. If you think $4/gal gas is bad, just you wait and see.
Why is it that the new American motto is “I can’t”? When did that happen and why? Read on for my theory…
Public transportation, like public schools, public healthcare, and virtually everything else that is socialist in nature, sucks. Public [insert institution name here] benefits users at the expense of non-users and reduces the need for people to be personally responsible. As socialism grows stronger here and more people come to expect the government to save their bacon, the “I can’t” motto will only grow louder and more persistent.
You cannot control urban sprawl by putting in very expensive fast trains at everyone’s expense that makes it easier to live in the suburbs. Population continues to grow exponentially. There’s your root of all evil. We are truly doomed.
Now get your ass on a bike and ride.
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July 1st, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Deliveries by supermarkets are a welcomed option for anyone who thinks groceries weight too much. If one just makes the milkmaid calculation that only one car is filled up with groceries, driving to many families who reduce their mileage by not using the car - awesome!
Alternatively, you might take (a) bike(s) with your kids or alone with panniers and a big backpack. 1.5 miles doesn’t seem a lot.
Another thing I am interested: If it is not just the one-time shopping per week, are you having such a big family or how comes that the shopping trolley is that full?
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July 1st, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Roads that are bike friendly — slow car traffic down or create seperate bike/pedistrian lanes with all new and reconstruction road projects.
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July 1st, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I believe we need to be working shorter, more flexible work weeks. The 40+ hour work week that goes from 8-5 is an artifact that does not support physical, emotional or spiritual health. OR healthy commuting! It is, for many people, a rat race that ends up killing them.
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July 1st, 2008 at 7:54 pm
In my native town back in Argentina, no matter where you go to live, there is always a bus stop in the corner or 2 or 3 block around. We should check the transportation systems of other countries to learn from them. It will be great to have more lines of Bus, and they should be more efficient. If they do not take hours, like you spend in Miami to arrive some where in bus, people will take them. There should be more bus lines, more roads only for buses, and good services that be convenient to everyone. Also, every town should have roads for bicycle, so we can go to the supermarket in bicycle. In some towns of Miami, it is impossible.
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:53 pm
If public transportation went where I wanted to go without adding at least an hour each way, I’d gladly take it. But all transporation dollars are spent on widening highways for ever-larger cars rather than developing a viable public transportation system.
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July 1st, 2008 at 9:30 pm
You want us to pay you tax incentives to walk? Give me a break! I bet you don’t even pay taxes!
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July 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 am
Since gasoline has raised dramatically in Ohio I have been driving my 1993 van under 60 miles an hour. My son borrows my van ’cause I get 19 miles to the gallon and his truck doesn’t. I don’t have air conditioning in my van, but his truck does. I don’t use the a/c. These 2 changes have taken place since early 2008. I save some money weekly by abiding by these 2 changes.
Gary
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July 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 am
More expensive gas.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 am
Available public transportation and neighborhood services such as grocery stores.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
I have already changed my driving habits due to the cost of fuel and the increase in everything else. I drive at 55 mph even though the speed limit is 65. I have noticed that I can go more days between fillups - so it is probably true that you can save about 20% on fuel costs by lowering your speed. I only use the car when absoutley necessary, no little trips to run errans, that is done going or comming to work.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 am
$4 gasoline. I bike to work now. It’s only 10 miles, I’d it was longer I’d get a scooter. When I do drive I also started those hyper miling technigues like driving without breaks.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 am
I’ve BEEN convinced for years and doing the best I can. Unfortunately, I don’t always have options. This entire nation is build around the personal vehicle and there’s no easy fix. We (meaning both citizens and the government) should have heeded the warnings for the last 15 years that the current state of affairs was inevitable and done more to prepare. Instead, now we all have to make sacrifices.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Global warming, obviously. I’m scared to death about global warming.
My dad has always had a public transit obsession, and we live in Chicago, which has a awesome public transit system, the CTA. Needless to say we ride this alot.
We are also renting a Prius for a trip to Canada.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Carpooling, and public transit. I enjoy the carpooling.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
I would like the government to increase the monthly limit on the tax free benefit of public transit. Currently, the limit is $115 per month that you can deduct from your income before taxes are taken out. I spend $150 on a monthly bus pass.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
The daily commute is the most important driving that most people do every day. Much of our driving today is inefficient because of all the stop, start and waits. Traffic flow patterns could be altered to improve flow, such as replace Stop signs with ‘Yields.’
In many locations the traffic light timign has not been adjusted for yeas and optimization of the timing would help traffic flow. Modern lights with sensors also help.
There are many small actions that indiviually may nto make a large impact, but combined become significant.
It seems that everyone wants to go to work at the same time and leave at the same time. If flexilbe schedules were encouraged more, then rush hour traffic would be avoided and the traffic would move more freely. Shorter commutes, with fewer slow downs and stops would save fuel; without needing any new technologies.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
A bus that comes more than once per hour. I live *on* the bus route, but it goes by so seldom that I could either be 40 minutes early for work, or 10 minutes late. Neither one works for me.
Another combination that would work is if my son’s day care were open later, and my working hours were more flexible (there’s no reason they shouldn’t be). Then the “10 minutes late” scenario would become “workday starts 10-15 minutes later and ends 10-15 minutes later.”
Also, if I could get off the bus, do some shopping, then get on the next bus to continue on to my destination without paying again. I pay a fare to get from work to home, but if I want to stop on the way home, I have to pay two fares.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I changed jobs to shorten my commute. Now I have more time, spend less and gas, and do a little bit for the environment at the same time.
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July 3rd, 2008 at 8:07 am
More affordable and more available public transportation
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July 3rd, 2008 at 11:47 am
I have already changed my driving habbits by taking the shortest route to work; driving slower; and running errands after work. I live in the country and would love to have groceries delivered but I am outside their delivery area. I feel the US should start drilling and employers should be mandated to offer flex time to their employees.
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July 3rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Our country has made so many wrong decisions in the past that it’s going to take a lot to get things straightened out. I think if we used our own people power (those who can anyway), we’d all be a lot healthier not only because we’d be using our bodies to do what was intended for them to do and because we’d be putting less pollution into the air and water. I’d love to see more bike paths, bike lanes, as well as more high-quality public transportation. What we need is innovation…can someone invent something that we can use our own power to run but that will protect us from some weather conditions (such as rain, snow, wind, and heat)? Or can we create commuter vehicles that are much smaller and perhaps would use solar power to run? Then would our oil-hungry government finally give those kinds of products a chance to be successful?
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July 4th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I would preferably ride my bike to go work if I had enough time to spend with my family and not the whole day occupied by work. No comment about the public transport. I mean: we need to drive just to earn time to spend for life.
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July 4th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I have already changed my habits. I make all my trips at one time when possible, by planning my routes. I also shop locally on my way home from work. It would be nice if the city I live near had a convenient bus system but it does not, at least its not convenient for people in the suburbs. It would be nice if oil industry would stopping looking at their bottom line but since this is a country of free enterprise that would lead us one more step towards socialism or communism. Perhaps cities that do not already have good transit systems like subways or elevated rails should be given incentives to start them.
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July 5th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Easy my friend—-
We are a small town raised military family with a new little baby stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada——we would ride the bus system if they put police officers in each bus to make sure nobody gets shot! I don’t feel it is safe riding the public transportation service here. It is violent, segregated, dangerous and leaves you baking in the heat at unsafe levels for my infant, while you wait. So, with that, I would say they also would need to make some sort of waiting area that brings the heat down to a safe level for kids. Hmmm.
Or, another avenue might be the formation of middle class aka safe “carpooling charter busses” one could become a member of for a monthly fee or maybe a one time fare higher than busses. A big nice bus, with a bathroom and normal people who can afford to pay more than bus fare but less than fueling a car for the month. I don’t know, it’s not perfect but it is a start at an idea to appeal to everyone but the super rich “too-good-for-sharing” a ride of any sort type.
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July 5th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Oh yeah, and one more thing. Why are we all up in arms about how to concerve and combat the high fuel prices when we are still quietly allowing our government to pay the big oil companies
“Oil Stipends” I believe they are called, or extra money to help with their profits from way back when decades ago they were having trouble. Gosh, I don’t know the details but my Husband talks about it all the time how the stipends or payments were never discontinued. How about we demand they be discontinued now that they are making record profits and milking us like little blood sucking vampires, and put that money towards nationwide improvements in public transportation and alternative energy? Anyone? Somebody out there go NOW and create
“www.usa-stop-paying-big-oil-companies-stipends-now.com!!! I’ll join! Unite! *snickers*
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July 6th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I finally made the decision to adjust my driving habits when a weeks worth of gas was costing me more than $70.00. It made me take a hard look at how having the ability to drive was really becoming a luxury. I started looking into my local bus services and found that with a little foot work I could get myself to and from work for around $2.50 per day. So that equalled to huge savings for me, I now get an extra 40 minutes of exercise per day and I am doing my part for lessening my own personal impact on the environment. I am really enjoying riding the public transit system and have met many wonderful people who have started riding for the same reasons as myself. All in all the soaring gas prices have been a good thing for me. I am healthier and happier.
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July 7th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I changed my driving habits and gas-consuming habits a few years ago, once I determined that using alot of gas was an unpatriotic thing to do and would become more costly in the future.
When I moved to a new vehicle in 2005, I chose the most economical and most alternative-fuel capable vehicle I could find (A VW Jetta TDI diesel).
Since fuel has gone up almost 100% in just one year, I have managed to squeeze out better fuel economy. From around 45 mpg to around 48 mpg (average), and I use B20 biodiesel blended in my fuel tank to help further offset the amount of crude oil I consume personally. I believe that qualifies me as fuel frugal as a Prius driver even though most Americans don’t understand the crude-saving abilities of modern, diesel automobiles.
I use a push mower and have managed to have used only about 4 gallons so far this summer for my lawn. I try not to use any other petro-type fuels at all.
I’m not sure what I can do next. I work 30.5 miles from home. I could drive the first 20 miles and bike the last ten to shorten my commute on clear days. I can find no way to possibly car pool due to varying schedules of my work mates and other workers in the area.
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July 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
The government / EPA could give us more choices by deregulating the car industry some. There are diesel cars, for instance, in Europe, that get over 60 mpg and are 90% cleaner-burning than the most clean diesel cars designed just two years ago, but the EPA has required a 95% cleanup of diesel cars just from 2006 (PM down to .002 and NOx down to .12). The reduction in NOx is the diesel killer here because cheap technology is just not here yet. The EPA could have asked for a reasonable reduction (say from 1 gram per mile to .4 gram per mile, but they required an immediate, 90% reduction in NOx which is only one compound that reacts with other compounds to create ozone. The other major compound, VOCs, comes mostly from gas-powered cars). Such a mandate makes it very expensive to offer cheap diesel cars in America, and as such, no car company can make a subcompact diesel that can compete on price, even though they get double the fuel economy of our subcompact gassers.
These economical diesels (60 mpg and up) are not tiny cars like the Smart-4-two, but real subcompacts comparable to the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and Chevy Aveo.
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July 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I USED to be a very fast driver (75 or more) on the highway, but I now use cruise control at 65. The obvious and #1 reason is gasoline prices - I recently checked my MPG’s of my 1998 Honda Accord, and I am getting only 23.7 MPG’s in mixed driving, and 25 MPG’s highway. Not nearly as good as I had previously thot.
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July 7th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I don’t need convincing - the original question implies that I am unwilling. I’ve changed as much as I possibly can without moving or changing jobs.
The sad fact is that I am unable to make more changes for reasons beyond my control.
I’d take the bus, but it doesn’t run in my area.
I’d take the train, but I have to make a day-care stop.
I’d ride my bike more, but the drivers are aggressive and blind and I am often afraid.
I’d get past the fear and ride my bike to work, but there are no showers.
I’d walk, but the sidewalks are inconsistent and there are too few crosswalks.
I’d carpool, but I have too many stops to and from work.
I’d do a combination of things, but the time involved would prevent me from participating in activities outside work. I really don’t want to spend my whole life working and commuting.
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July 8th, 2008 at 1:07 am
My beloved SUV still gets 16 mpg. If I dirve VERY consertively, I get 18 mpg. The change is that I now walk to the grocery which is 1 mile away at least once a week. Geez, a good workout for my mind and body!!!
The price of gasoline is not all that much. It’s just that the US is finally catching up to the rest of the world after 2 decades. Time to be an “adult country” in using energy. Rising oil prices will have a most profound positive effect on the US as a whole.
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July 8th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Why even bother with buses if you had metro rail? Buses interfere with traffic (which slows everyone else down and causes accidents), are some of the worst polluters, and are basically unreliable timewise. If I had a metro near my house that went anywhere near where I work or downtown, I’d definitely use it. The bus line near me goes only east-west, but work is in the northern part - so I’d have to go all the way downtown, transfer, and then go all the way back out, for a total ride of about 1-1/2 hours. They’re proposing a metro line now for the first time in my area, but it’s so far from my house, I’d have to drive to get there — and then there’s no place to park because it’s fully developed already in that area of the city.
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July 8th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Bus routes are not practical when I have a child to get to school and pickup and get myself to and from work. I do combine trips when I have errands to run or walk to stores that are close by and I don’t have a lot to carry back home. Plus I have family that is an hour’s drive away.
Bus routes are too inconvenient so I would never want to totally give up my vehicle.
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July 10th, 2008 at 12:41 am
I am down to driving only when I have something big to haul around that I can’t fit on my bike. What got me to switch to my bike was the availability of a sweet electric conversion kit that turns my bike into a “hybrid”. It’s powered by carbohydrates (in the food I eat) and electricity at a cost of about $5.00 annually. I have a SF Bay Area commute of 22 miles each way (a jaunt across the Richmond Bridge on a transit bus bike rack). I am now working on other energy saving strategies: Plug bars with switches on all electronics, shutting down computers most of the time, takng “Navy” showers, most of the time. I also have a diesel VW Camper that runs on biodiesel which is going to replace a lot of airplane travel - we are taking a pan-Americas research tour in “Liesl the Diesl” starting in 2011 to document alternative fuels usage (and other topics of burning interest to us)in the western hemisphere.
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July 10th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Access to good and reliable public transportation is a key. The current state of public transportation is very bad although I live in a city that boasts of its “great” transportation access. I have used the public transportation for many years, and now having gotten tired of the so much time I waste waiting for busses and making connections, I have decided to make changes to my living arrangements so that I can easily drive to work. After all, a day has only limited number of hours and people have limited energy and time, if any, to waste.
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July 13th, 2008 at 12:28 am
I drive a 3/4 ton pick up because of equipment and materials I haul.My wife and I both use our 4 cyl. sportage when possible.We’ve both increased our MPG by 15-20% by the way we drive.Which also saves on the wear and tear on the brakes.My biggest beef with other drivers is with the ones who race from green lights to red lights. I’ve found it much more fuel effecient to anticipate the changing of the lights.
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July 13th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
My concern is that the EPA is a political tool of the government rather than a leader in making responsible changes and policies to impact in a positive way the many environmental problems we have.
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August 6th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Efficient public transportation. I would love to be able to travel the freeway routes between Oregon and Washington destinations by train, but the train schedules make it extremely impractical. I think people would travel those routes by train if they worked with the average workday, as well.
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October 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
it is very difficult for people like us to make changes like these, but you can do and even more if it encourages people through media such as blog and forums, I use a blog called Super Replicas, and the truth after reading comments like these would put my grain of sand on that page.
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October 8th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
A national effort to improve the rail system would be great, love trains but never on time and not may run when and where you want.
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