Alternative Transportation - Ways to Save on Fuel and Put Money in Your Pocket

Many drivers think driving their vehicle is the only mode of transportation. However, high fuel prices have forced many consumers to look for alternative transportation. Alternative transportation is more efficient, than driving your vehicle everywhere. If more drivers used alternative transportation, such as the public transit system, riding a bike, buying a hybrid vehicle, or car-pooling then they would save hundreds of dollars.

The public transit system may seem like a scary thing, but it’s the most efficient and readily available source of transportation. Every US state has a public transportation system. Public transportation is cheap, and convenient. Drivers could benefit from taking the bus, or the subway. Using public transportation gives the car a rest, and improves gas mileage. The savings are great when comparing a $2.50 transit per ride to $2.50 per gallon of gas. If it costs $75 a week to maintain a full tank, using the public transit system could turn that figure into $25 a week. Assuming, you use public transportation every weekday. Public transportation is not so scary, when faced with rising gas prices. The only downside, are crowded stations, or crowded buses. Also, consumers using public transportation will have to continually check routes and schedules.

Riding a bike is a healthy alternative, when trying to save on fuel. If it’s not too much of an inconvenience, then ride a bike to work or on short errands. Consumers that ride a bike are helping the environment, and saving money on high fuel prices. Taking a bike instead of your vehicle, gives your vehicle rest and gives you exercise. Riding a bike is free, so there’s no comparison to the high fuel prices. It will cost you nothing to go the same distance that usually costs you $5.00. Consumers will have a sense of self-satisfaction, and will generally feel good about their mode of transportation. Most consumers would be better off riding a bike. It put an extra “pep in your step” and extra money in your pocket. Consumers won’t have to worry about heavy traffic when riding a bike, but it may require you to leave a little earlier, if you want to arrive to your destination on time.

Hybrid vehicles are the perfect solution to high fuel prices. Hybrids are more fuel-efficient than conventional vehicles. Hybrids give better fuel economy than conventional vehicles. Actually, the fuel economy of a hybrid is 50 percent higher then non-hybrid vehicles. Drivers will be able to drive almost 300 miles further on one tank of gas. So, consumers will be able to drive to work on the same tank of gas for an entire week. Assuming you only drive your vehicle to work, then you’ll be able to go the same distance for approximately $35 less. Hybrids such as the Toyota Prius average 40mpg/city, and 38mpg/highway. Hybrids are also less pollutant than conventional vehicles. The hybrid is 90 percent cleaner for smog forming emissions, than the average vehicle, and there are no particulate emissions. There aren’t many down sides to buying a hybrid besides the higher prices. The average hybrid costs $3500-$6000 more than some conventional models.

Car-pooling is a great alternative to driving your own vehicle. It’s smarter to ride with people that are going to the same location, instead of wasting your own fuel. Co-workers could set up a car pool schedule. So, the same person wouldn’t have to drive every day. Car -pooling is an effective solution to the high fuel prices. Car-pooling between five co-workers will help have a better impact on the environment, than each worker driving him or herself. Instead of five cars polluting there will only be one. If more consumers car pooled, then there would be a decrease in pollutants, because there would be fewer vehicles on the road. The only problem with car-pooling is, keeping the schedules’ straight, and pooling with dependable drivers.

These alternative transportation, show that there is more than one way of arriving at a destination. Consumers don’t have to wear their vehicles, and pockets down, when trying to travel to work or to do other errands. There are plenty of alternative modes of transportation, besides your vehicle. They are all cost effective, and easily accessible.

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For more on alternative transportation visit Car-Free.org - Coalition for Appropriate Transportation.