June's Challenge: Reducing the Auto Footprint!

It's not enough that as conscientious and responsible members of society, we should be focusing on reducing our carbon footprint.  Now, just as the summer vacation season gets under way, the season of road trips and weekends away, started off by hopping onto the highway to get to the cottage or camp site (not to mention extra stops to the liquor and beer store), BlogHers ACT Canada has the guts to tell you that you should also be reducing your auto footprint.  We've got some nerve, don't we?

Sure, reducing automobile use may not be that big a deal for city dwellers.  Public transit systems that include commuter trains, street cars and buses make it much easier to get along in a large city without a car.  However, for suburban communities and rural areas, getting to a nearby town for groceries without a car, for example, is next to impossible!  I don't even want to imagine what it would be like to be the parent of small children in the 'burbs, stuck at home without a car or a bus to get me to the community centre or playdate.

The good news is that there is more to reducing your auto footprint than simply avoiding driving.  This month at BlogHers ACT Canada we're going to delve into the mysteries of reducing one's auto footprint.  This may include an overview of services such as auto shares and the development and use of non-gasoline powered vehicles, including my husband's current obsession, electric cars.

As the lead blogger on this site, I have to come clean and tell you that although we've been making efforts to reduce the amount of driving we do, our motivation is almost purely financial.  The cost of gasoline and diesel fuel is rising to the point of being nearly unaffordable for the average family.  Even with two incomes, we would definitely be struggling to afford gas for two commuter vehicles.  Fortunately, I work from home, which means we have drastically reduced the amount of gas we consume, and consequently, the amount of use our vehicles are put to.  We pat ourselves on the back, and congratulate ourselves on the reduced levels of carbon we're contributing to the atmosphere.  Hey, if it's the price of gas that gets people thinking about cutting back on their automobile use, so be it.

Other than cutting back on the amount of actual driving that is done, I will admit that the concept of reducing one's automobile footprint is somewhat of a mystery to me, too.  That's why I'm hoping that you'll help me get the conversation started.  What are some of the ways in which you or your friends or family are reducing your automobile footprint?  Write a blog post, and link to us here, so we know you're participating in this month's challenge. 

Comments

[kittenpie]

Misterpie is moving in the fall to a school much closer to home - a commute less than a third of this year's, which should help not only on costs, and on the environment, but also on the quality of life involved in less in-car time. It's all wrapped up together, isn't it?

[Mouse]

I was already working on a post on this when I saw this month's challenge. I tweaked it a little after reading your post:
http://themousesnest.blogspot.com/2008/06/global-warming-wednesday-reducing-our.html

Even though we're in a small town now, we have a pretty good bus system, which my son loves. Not as extensive or as frequent as the TTC, but it can get us most places we want to go.