Gas Prices: Is There an Alternative to Driving??

Gas prices are a huge issue and something that is a real problem in my hometown area of Southeast Michigan. Born and raised in the motor city if there is one thing this area understands it's automobiles, however we definitely don't understand these gas prices!!! Why is this happening Detroit is going though a hard enough economic time with a struggling automobile industry and now people are being forced to buy low cost cars or turn to alternative methods of transportation? With the summer driving season fast approaching I began to question what else I can to save on gas and maybe help prevent global warming!!

How to save on gas??

Public Transportation

There is no form of public transportation in my area other than the bus system and if I was to ride that my 15 minute drive to work would turn to over an hour and then I would still have to walk over a mile to the office from the bus stop. This also becomes difficult when you consider Michigan weather crazy and unpredictable!!!

Ride a Bike

Riding a bike is a great idea when it comes to saving on gas and also helping to preserve our environment, however in metro Detroit this is also a very unrealistic idea. Most Detroiters drive on major expressways to get to work and this would be very unsafe. While I only live about 10 miles 15 minutes from my home almost my entire drive is on an expressway one without a bike bath and quite frankly it would be very dangerous even if there was one!!!

Carpool

Carpooling with fellow employees or maybe friends or family is a wonderful alternative to driving yourself to work each morning!! This can also present some difficulties when it comes to metro Detroit!! Most people live rather far from where they work and varying schedules and available work times can really present an issue. I have decided if gas prices hit an all time as they are predicting this summer of $4 a gallon, I am going to present this to my boss and see if she will let me arrange my schedule in a way to save some money on gas!! I feel if I can still get the job done what does it matter when I come or go flextime should be more readily available for reasons like this!!!

These are a few very useful ideas on how to save gas money and help preserve the environment, however ask yourself how realistic these are for your everyday life?? Only one of these options is actually feasible and if you ask me still a pain in the neck having to rearrange my schedule!! I really hope gas prices don't go as high and they say but my gut tells me they are going to!!!

Check out www.gasbuddy.com for up to date information on gas prices around the country and to help locate the cheapest gas in your hometown!!