Fuel Conservation

In addition to the ways mentioned to be "gas-ecological," there are other ways that you can conserve fuel. Don't drive around the parking lot for hours waiting for a convenient space to "open up." Americans do this all of the time. Just think of the gas that we could save (not to mention pollution) if we all just parked in the first spot we could find, and walked! It would probably save time, too (the reason we're so intent on finding a "close" parking spot in the first place). Use carpools, vanpools and public transportation. Although this means that you'll have to give up some of your "freedom," it doesn't necessarily mean that in the long run. If you don't do it now, by your own freedom of choice (the pollution situation won't go away on its own) soon regulations may order you to give up your freedom. If this happens, it won't be on your schedule. It will be on the law's schedule. They might order you not to drive on Tuesdays, and it won't be voluntary. You'll be a "lawbreaker" if they catch you, and punished accordingly. Don't wait for that to happen. If we all take some sort of voluntary action now, it won't have to happen. Use a bicycle, and/or respect those who do Bicycles are a great means of transportation. Remember when you were too young to drive? You didn't think anything of getting where you needed to go on your bike. It worked just fine. You got exercise, and didn't pollute anything. We are seeing more and more cyclists on the road these days, but we tend to resent them. We think that they are in our way. They are, but they are also cutting down on pollution. Try to think that if they were in a car, you might not make it through the next light because they would be in front of you. Realize that there aren't many good roads for bicycles and that if there were, the cyclists would be even happier to be on them than you would. Don't think of them as your adversaries. Just be glad they're not in cars. Think about riding a bicycle yourself. If it wasn't for the danger of short-tempered, mean-spirited drivers, cycling could be a great form of exercise -- with a purpose. It's also great for the environment. There are lots of trips you make that would be ideally suited for a bicycle. If more of us rode them, then better bicycle routes would be demanded by the taxpayers. This would make it better all around for both bicyclists and motorists. More people would bike, and less people would drive. More people would be healthy and feel better, and so would the environment. Call Ahead If you aren't sure they have what you want, call stores to find out before you drive there. Don't drive from store-to-store -- call from store-to-store. You can even do price comparisons that way. Call before you "drop-in" on someone to make sure they're home (they'll appreciate that, anyhow). Using your phone can save you hours of driving, parking and walking around. Use Your Legs Why is it, that even if we only live a mile from work, we drive anyhow? Sometimes we have too much to carry, or it's raining, or we have to do some errands. This isn't true all of the time. The truth is, we just don't think of walking anymore. Zillions of people are out walking these days -- it's called "recreational walking," and it's all the rage. To do recreational walking, the rule is, you have to wear special clothes and shoes, and use your "spare" time for it to "count." Right? Wrong. You can walk in any kind of clothes (although you might want to wear your "special" shoes and carry your "work" shoes) and actually save some of your "spare" time for something else. Try to work walking into your regular schedule, lose weight, feel better and help the environment.