What have YOU done to decrease the amount of gasoline you use

me ^ | 5/8/06 | AzNascarFan

[AzNASCARfan]

I would challenge you democtatic underground lurkers (or a freeper with a DU account) to post this over there and see what sort of repsonses come from the left...

I keep hearing how oil dependent we are and how higher consumption is driving up prices... I hear how it is adversely affecting 75% of americans, It seems like if that was the case, 75% of americans would cut the amount they use! I know I cant be the only person in america that has drastically cut the amount of fuel I use over the past year. I want to know what everybody has done to use less fuel.

[RGSpincich]

tire pressure=60lbs. I think I need new shocks....

[Coldwater Creek]

I just love people like you all. My bank stock and mutual funds that have oil company stock are doing great and are way more making up for the rise in fuel prices.

[bonfire]

Thanks! She's having a HUGE surgery with a LONG recoup time. We have faith she'll be good as new!

I think our gas went down also....although, once again, I barely pay attention!

[dalereed]

Absolutely nothing but my gas bill last week was $160 and that doesn't count the wifes car.

[tubebender]

My mileage went from 22mpg to 17.5mpg,

You can justify the fuel consumption by the time saved running to and from the Beer warehouse.

BTW That sure is a purty car. My 65 GTO tripower got good mileage if I kept both feet out of the of the other two carbs. Most of that type of driving came mostly on Sundays and then it was only a 1/4 mile at a time...

[Zeddicus]

My car (a 6-cyl BMW 3-series that gets decent mileage) goes practically unused from March to November - I ride a motorcycle as my primary transportation.

My wife also rides a motorcycle. Her car (4-cyl Subaru) get used for kid-related duty and getting stuff that won't fit in the bikes' luggage.

We've also cut our home heating oil consumption by around 60% with the installation of a wood stove 2 years ago.

It just seems strange to me to hear conservatives righteously bragging about unbridled overconsumption.

[east1234]

I watch my tire pressure, change airfilter more often and go easier on the accelerator, took me from 15 mpg to almost 17 mpg, not a lot of a difference. Other than that I avoid unnecessary trips.

[mnehring]

You could thank us if either of us drove a lot. Both of us live within blocks of our offices and all of my out of town work trips are on the co dime in either rental cars or air.

[fortunecookie]

I think a general presumption is that most or all Americans waste gas. Some of us don't. Cut back? Yes, I have. I've been more conscientious in terms of consolidating errands. I live in a rural area. There is a bus or 2 that runs for senior citizens, a cab or 2, mostly to shuttle folks the long distance to the nearest small airport, but mostly if you want to do something you have to drive. I have a short commute, no waste there. My car gets excellent mileage. But I have to drive to do just about anything else, including mandatory meetings for work. And some of it is unavoidable. It has cut the 'fun' out of my life, trips to the mall (30 miles to the nearest) and such are down or out.

I will be using MUCHO gas in the next month as my mother is having surgery. Running back and forth from hospital and home which is 40 minutes away. Haven't even given the cost of gas a thought. Much more important things on my mind.

Like bonfire, those of us who don't have a choice, who have to drive and conserve in other ways, will (continue to) bear the brunt of the high cost of gas.

[SlowBoat407]

I can't do much more to save gas on the road, but on the water I use a sailboat instead of power. That means I can go all day on the amount of gas it takes me to leave the dock (unless the wind is favorable, in which case I sail out of the dock!)

[ByDesign]

I moved to within 4 blocks of my office, and this summer will be walking to work.

On top of gas savings (I filled up last week, it had been 6-7 weeks since my last fill up), I have no commute...unless one of the two traffic lights I go through is red.

Life is good.

[Coldwater Creek]

Good, keep those credit card charges to the banks coming.

I can hardly wait to see next quarters dividends.

[Crazieman]

Same.

Despite my gas guzzling 98 Z28, I mostly drive back and forth to work, I haven't changed my rabbit start habits, and can afford gas all the way up to $13/gallon.

[somniferum]

Nothing has changed for me. I'm a broke grad student, I have been minimizing gas use (as well as every other expense) for a while :P

[kabar]

I pay off my credit card bills every month.

[bandleader]

My primary vehicle(during the winter/going to the airport.etc.,etc.)is my 2002 Yukon.While it is not good on gas(12/17),it is good when the weather is bad,or I have to haul my equipment for a gig!My other vehicle is my almost .pristine 1986 Honda Civic Si which I bought new in August,1986.The reason it is so gorgeous is that it sleeps in the garage all winter.It's got 91,000(and change)and it's what I call my"secret weapon"against high gas prices!!!

[larryjohnson]

From 26 Jan to 1 May: I drove to N Calif and back from Maine using the southern routes. I put over 11,000 mi on my 2005 Volvo XC90 which uses premium. I averaged 20mpg. During this timeframe gas went up and up. I stayed in Choice motels but did save a little money with their free breakfasts,power bars and staying about 30 days with friends.

[bandleader]

May God Bless your Mom!!!

[cripplecreek]

That's just it, it is simple.

I live in the country so I don't make a lot of wasted trips to town. If I do go to town I usually drive the Ranger or the wifes Taurus. I only take my F150 when I need the cargo space.

[HamiltonJay]

No too much, I have been taking the bus to work for several years... but my wife has switched from using our full size conversion van during the day for her errands to using our car generally, that's cut back some.. but that's about it.

Fact is there is no gas shortage, just a speculative bubble on crude... It'll come back down, just a matter of when.