Betty's October column in Abode: Reduce your driving!

Enjoy this column here at Betty's blog or read it in this month's Abode: www.c-ville.com

Charlottesvillians everywhere are finding ways to downshift their driving. To skip a trip, choose a ride you take on a weekly basis and get creative.

To maintain your level of awareness, keep a fuel log.

Then trade your four wheels for two and bike or walk.

Not viable? Jeff Greer, Senior Systems Engineer at LexisNexis, saves up to 35 miles a week using the Charlottesville Transit System bus or free trolley.

Our local rideshare program (www.rideshareinfo.org) makes carpooling easy. Commit to once a week and the “guaranteed ride” program ensures you won’t be left stranded. And parents: check to see if your school is registered with the schoolpool which matches drivers for you.

Have you heard of hypermiling to maximize fuel efficiency? Consider making small adjustments in your driving techniques for a week: shifting into neutral when reaching top speed, staying within speed limits, eliminating quick starts, and turning off the engine when idling for more than a minute and see the positive results.

Talk to your boss about the possibility of four-day work week or working from home. Select departments at UVA and Charlottesville City have promoted this fuel-saving change.

Marleigh Baratz, a county resident, began a “call before you go” system on her block. Before going to the store, she phones neighbors to see if they need a couple items (to be reimbursed), helping others to avoid unnecessary trips. Better yet, take advantage of retail relay (www.retailrelay.com): a newly launched online service, where you click, pay, and make one trip to pick up your local goods.

Eliminating one weekly ten-mile trip will save you over 2,000 miles a year and up to $550 in gas.

Americans are driving less, are you?

The Federal Highway Admininstration reports that Americans drove 42 billion fewer miles during the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year. I can't help but believe that people are making good on their New Year's resolve to "go green" employing a variety of ways to do that, including lowering their driving. Of course higher gas prices have been an added impetus. Excellent.

The average American takes TEN car trips to and from their home. And I know it can be tough - if you have a pet at home who needs walking, if you have appointments after the kids come home on the bus, if you have kids who need to go to a sport or instrument practice.

So here are some tips for reducing your driving this fall:

*A FRIEND IN NEED: Call you neighbor before leaving the house and see if he/she needs one or two items from the store; ask he/she to do the same for you

*LOG IT TO LESSEN IT: Keep track of your weekly miles in a notebook or in your calendar you carry around. From there, challenge yourself to figure out ways to reduce the miles.

*SKIP A TRIP: Make a committment to car pool to one practice a week this fall. New American Dream tell us that "Taking alternative means of transport for a weekly 20-mile trip represents less than a 10 percent decrease in the average American's driving but can reduce your weekly carbon dioxide emissions by more than 18 pounds."

*FOOTLOOSE AND CARFREE: Work or play at home for a day. Some of the best times I've had with my two boys is when we've stayed at home for a day and been crafty and creative, finding things in our own home and in our backyard.

*HIT TO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE: Metaphorically speaking, of course! Consolidate your trips, but most of you do that already. :-)

*FAMILY FUN: Walk or bike to your nearest park this weekend.

*DIFFERENT IS GOOD: Choose a trip you take on a weekly basis and experiment with getting there using alternative transportation: the bus, bike, walk, rollerblade, skateboard. Check Betty's friends over at www.transportationchoice.org: Cville's best alternative transportation advocates.

When you do:New American Dream tell us that "Taking alternative means of transport for a weekly 20-mile trip represents less than a 10 percent decrease in the average American's driving but can reduce your weekly carbon dioxide emissions by more than 18 pounds."

*CARPOOLING IS COOL: Join a carpool or schoolpool or start your own. see www.rideshareinfo.org for all the local info!

When you do:If you are signed up in any type of pool at least two days a week, you are eligible to register for a "guaranteed ride:" if you suddenly need a ride, the people at rideshare are happy to help. Either via free taxi service(within a certain distance) or even a short-term rental car option!

This year my preschooler is starting his five-day program, so I am organizing a "school-pool" with parents on my side of town. My son's school is not currently listed on the site, but Baker-Butler Elementary School, both Covenant schools, Greenbrier Elementary and others are listed as participating. Again, check it out Albemarle and Cville area commuters, parents, riders: rideshareinfo.org

And certainly you won't forget your manners with this great link to carpool etiquette: http://www.carpool.ca/carpool_etiquette.asp

Keep up the good work, everyone!
BWB

Note: See my previous post No More Excuses, Commuters: http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=6525812320590591047&searchType=ALL&page=2