We went to an “Open House” to review our city’s plans to build a new road between our housing development and retail stores on the other side of the valley. I was thrilled to see that the planners included a wide pedestrian and bike path.
Now that gas is hovering around $4.00 per gallon, it is finally making a difference in the amount that people drive. According to ecomodder, Gas Prices Taking Effect: 11 Billion Fewer Miles Driven This March:
“2008 marks the first time since 1979 that there has been a drop in miles travelled in over the month of March. This drop corresponds to 11 billion less miles traveled, according to FHWA. Over the first quarter of 2008, greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector have also dropped 9 million metric tons compared to past years, something that no amount of political posturing has yet to accomplish.”
I know we drive less often and combine our errands whether we’re shopping locally or driving to Tucson.
Maybe this will compel city planners and developers to consider ways to make towns more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.
Pictures of bicyclists in Nieuw Markt, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Note the cellphone and the child in the work basket as well as the man in a suit bicycling to work.
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Ecomodder is also a great site to learn how to get the most MPGs out of whatever kind of car you have. Some of them have gone o the extreme and even made their cars more arrow dynamic. It’s really cool stuff.
How about walking? It makes you fitter too!
Girl from Mars, Yes, indeed. I think a lot of people think of walking as a leisure activity rather than a mode of transportation. Seems odd that folks will drive to a gym to walk on a treadmill. ~ Daryl
James Towner, I just read ecomodder’s “105 hypermiling / ecodriving tips…”, http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php. Excellent ideas. I got a chuckle out of this: “Adjusting the nut behind the wheel is arguably the most important modification a person can make to his or her vehicle.” How true!