Y’all know I’m a car-free crunchy guy, but not without (some) sympathy for drivers. It sucks to have the economic basis of a low-density residential environment dry up and get expensive.
OK — better get to my point before my sympathy dries up, too.
People need to save gasoline now, not wait five or ten or twenty years for some substitute to be viable. Apart from giving up cars, or even driving less, the best way to save gas is to
- drive slower
- keep the tires properly inflated
People may, if encouraged, do these, and I’d bet tire inflation is the more palatable choice.
So here’s an idea: Tire Check Day at church. After coffee, volunteers armed with pressure gauges to teach the unsure how to check pressure. Bonus: having an air compressor at church to top up underinflated tires.
8 May. Treehugger had a article, from the Edmunds car people, which suggests that tire inflation doesn’t save gas, but is still a good idea for safety’s sake. They suggest driving non-aggressively and at the speed limit for potentially remarkable savings. See the article (Edmunds.com link) for details.
I like your idea for Tire Check Day.
Honda says Hydrogen cars will be commercially available in three to four years. Check it out:
http://world.honda.com/FuelCell/
Hydrogen cars leave me cold. The energy inputs — usually in the form of natural gas — for the commercial production of hydrogen make these cars a dubious environmental bargain.