Sure, we all thought we were all bad-a the first time we pulled into the driveway in our brand-new sport utility vehicle. Of course we didn’t need all that cargo space, but that is what luxury means – having something you don’t need, right? Well, that was then, this is now.
Thanks to a war, a crappy economy, and karmic supply and demand, gasoline is now shooting above the $4 mark with no sign of stopping anytime soon. That sport utility in the driveway is probably now looking about as welcome as a polygamist compound in Texas. For those trying to bust their 2 gallon a day habit, here are a few suggestions.
1. Join the Masses
I know what you are thinking, mass transit is for poor people. Well, guess what? That ginormous hunk of metal out front has you one step away from the welfare office. Public transportation can actually be a lot more convenient than it used to be. Many transportation systems have online maps that allow you to type in an address and will give you detailed instructions on how to arrive at your destination by using your city’s mass transit. Some systems even have GPS enabled buses that allow you to estimate your wait time from your internet-enabled PDA. Do a Google search for your city’s public transportation system to see what services they offer.
2. Make a Friend
If the train or bus just doesn’t go where you work, you can try carpooling. Try asking around at work or posting flyers on the break room bulletin board to see who lives in your area. Some larger companies may have a carpool matching system or you can try an online service like eRideShare.com. Some cities even offer monetary incentives to start carpooling. Atlanta awards carpoolers $40 or $60 gas cards every month depending on how many people share the vehicle.
3. Dust off the Huffy
Riding a bike to work will not only reduce the time you spend behind the wheel but it will also help you to get rid of that other spare tire you have going on. (Wait, did he just call me fat?) If you aren’t sure you can make the entire trip try parking and biking in part way. There are even websites devoted to tips for bicycle commuters.
4. Curb the Durango
You could just get rid of the car altogether. Not only will you save on gas but you will save on maintenance and insurance. For those times when you still need a vehicle, you may have a car-sharing service like Zipcar available in your city. Zipcar has a tiered pricing plan based on usage with hourly rates starting at $7.65/hour and daily rates starting at $56.10 (rates depend on the car and the location). Aside from an application fee, that is all you pay – Zipcar takes care of the gas, insurance, maintenance, and parking.
With all this talk of economizing, I decided to put my money where my mouth was. I used to spend from $250 to $300 on gas every month because of my low mpg Jeep Grand Cherokee. About a month and a half ago, I started taking MARTA (Atlanta’s mass-transit system) to work and anywhere else I could. Most systems have a frequent traveler program and I ended up buying a month pass for $52 that gave me unlimited use of the trains and buses. This month I have spent less than $100 in gas and with the $52 added on top, I have saved $100 in transportation costs. I’m now looking for ways that I can whittle that cost down even further.
For me, the benefits weren’t only monetary. I started downloading podcasts and audiobooks to listen on my iPod during the train ride and I found myself looking forward to the walk through the green spaces in Inman Park after a long day at work. Before I had dreaded fighting traffic and often arrived at home more stressed than when I had left the office.
So, break yourself from the habit! I stood up and said, “Hello World! My name is Clint and I’m a gasaholic!” The first step is recognition; the second step is action. (The third step is finally watching that Netflix that has been on my DVD player for, like, ever.)