Less than a month ago I blogged about the rising gasoline prices here in the 'Burg. I asked readers to write in and let me know how much gas was running in their neck of the woods. I only heard from one of you! Well, after my post in April, gasoline prices leveled out at $3.38 a gallon. I was hesitant to mention it as I was sure as soon as I did the prices would shoot up the next day (as if my blog were all powerful!). Well, Friday things started moving in that upward direction. Over the weekend gasoline reached $3.47. And Monday (between my trip in to work and my trip home) it went to $3.56. 
A friend of mine told me in April, "Honey gas prices are going to $4.00 so get over it!" I shared this with John who just laughed. Seems his sources say that gasoline will be $6.00 by Christmas.
Just today I received an email asking me not to go to the pump on May 15. Sort of a mini gas strike. While I understand the sentiment and spirit, I also know that not purchasing gas for one day is NOT going to get my message across. I am going to have to change how I live (and how I drive).
For those of you that may or may not have received a similar email regarding a gasoline strike on May 15th, it has a long Internet history as a bit of a hoax. You can check it out at Snopes. However, instead of boycotting the pumps for a day, I urge you to consider how each of us can consume less? While going out and purchasing a hybrid or a Smart Car is not a possibility for most of us, I believe that there are some small things we can do that will add up.
I remember my dad's suggestions for increasing fuel efficiency on Dominic, my 1980 Ford Pinto not my nephew! I'll share them here. If you have suggestions, please make them in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.
Dad's Suggestions
1) Tune Up
2) Check Tire Pressure
3) Avoid the A/C. (That's a hard one!)
4) Don't drive 85 mph. Seriously.
My Suggestions
1) Take the bus. (I wish we had serious public transit here!)
2) Car pool.
3) Think about your errands; that is plot your course carefully and try to do it in one trip instead of several smaller ones.
4) Ride a bike. (I admit, I am scared to death to do this! Most of the time folks on Hwy. 13 drive like maniacs. They scare me in my Kia. What would it be like on a bike? But I am giving this serious consideration.)
So what are your suggestions? What were your parents' or grandparents' suggestions? Please share.
3 comments:
Horses don't eat much and are cheap to run! Buy a horse and a wagon, you'll be right at home in Mo.
Mom
Grandpa said! if you can buy corn to feed it!
1. Save up all your errands and do them in one day. Cars that are warmed up use less gas.
2. Plan your trips. You might also find when you save the errands that there a few of them in the same neighborhood.
3. UPS and FedEx say avoid left turns. They use more gas idling while you wait for a break in traffic.
4. Unless there is no one at the drive-in window, park the car, turn it off, and go in.
BTW, the price of corn is going up, too!!
Oh, I did want to report from California but I just bought gas today! So, regular unleaded gas at the Marine base (fewer taxes than in civilian land, usually 10 to 15 cents less) cost $3.83. I would have driven through town to check prices, but then, that would have used gas! As far as increasing mileage, how about hypermiling? http://www.hypermiling.com/ I now look in the rear view mirror when I know I'm coming to a turn or a light and if it's clear I just let off the gas and let friction do its work. Only problem is that it gives me longer to listen to the screaming baby in the backseat...
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