A New Year’s Resolution to drive less and/or drive smart will benefit you, help the community, and even improve global conditions.
Reason #1: Save Cold, Hard Cash!
Make a New Year’s Resolution to choose green transportation (something other than driving alone) for your commutes, and you could save thousands of dollars in 2010. According to the AAA, it will cost you between $12 and $18 every day you drive your vehicle. (Click on www.pagnet.org for the Commute Cost Calculator that will tell you how much it costs YOU driving your specific make and model.)
Reason #2: Be an Air Freshener
Collectively, we Tucsonans drive about 27,000,000 miles (yes that’s 27 MILLION miles) e v e r y D A Y ! And about 60% of our air pollution comes from driving those many miles. Drive less; reduce air pollution. Who wouldn’t want cleaner, healthier air to breathe!? Also, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, transportation counts for about 30% of the greenhouse gasses causing global climate change. Drive less; reduce greenhouse gasses, too!
Step #1: Just Give In
Your car or truck does not define you. Join the thousands in our community who acknowledge that driving is a big nuisance in many ways and try a different mode to get around. Commit to making a change to drive smarter, drive less, improve air quality, and save money!
Step #2: Weigh Your Options
See what might work for you: bus, carpool, vanpool, bike, walk? Do you live near a bus route or can you drive or bike to a Park & Ride Lot to finish your commute via bus? Click on www.suntran.com for help picking routes.
Might you try a carpool, or vanpool? Don’t know who lives in your neighborhood and works in your … businesshood? Register on Pima Association of Government’s Sun Rideshare Matching Database to find potential carpool/vanpool buddies. www.pagnet.org
Do you live close enough to ride a bike or walk to work? See a bike map, learn about free bike safety classes, and even hook up with a bike buddy through the Pima County Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. http://bikeped.pima.gov/.
Step #3: Drive Smart
Whether alternate modes work for you or not, if you own a vehicle, take good care of it and drive smarter.
• Improve gas mileage by checking your tire pressure regularly and keeping them at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI.
• Check your air filter regularly and replace when necessary. This can improve mileage by up to 10%.
• During the summer, refuel after 5:00 p.m., and always stop at the click to reduce spills. These steps help reduce ground level ozone pollution.
• Accelerate smoothly and maintain steady speeds. Quick starts and rapid acceleration waste fuel.
• Avoid excess idling, especially at school parking lots, but also at drive thru restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and railroad crossings. Idling more than 30 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
• Drive slowly on dirt roads to keep dust down.
Your resolution to drive less and drive smarter will save you money and change the environment for the better. It is time to make a move in the right direction.
Questions? Click karen.wilhelmsen@deq.pima.gov or call 243-7449.
