Honk If You Love Traffic

Make a Difference

The world would be a deathly silent place if we did that, would it not? No one, let’s repeat, no one loves traffic. The heat, the noise, the pollution, all added to the waste: time, fuel, sanity. Can you MAD about traffic? No, no. Not road rage. Make A Difference… MAD.

Statistics

Even before the seasonal skyrocket of fuel prices for summer, it costs around 55 cents to drive one mile. This covers fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance and the unstoppable depreciation of the vehicle. How far do you drive everyday? Sounds expensive.

construction barrel

Scientific name: fenderivore orangicus

Considering the national monument is the construction barrel, still one third of roads are rated poor or mediocre based on heavy traffic and little or no maintenance and repair.

Burning one gallon of gasoline produces 18 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2). What kind of mileage do you get? And how many miles do you drive everyday? Where’s your calculator?

Rideshare

Time to get over the stigma of the carpool. Only 10% of workers rideshare. National HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes are deserted. What is the benefit of sharing a ride?

tank farm

That is a lot of gas!

$2,860 per year: Savings for each person in a two-person rideshare for a 40-mile round trip. What could you do with an extra two and a half grand? Would you put three of you in one vehicle for $3,810?

12,000 gallons of gas: Savings if 100 people would carpool the daily commute for one year.

135 million gallons of gas: Savings if there were a 10% increase in public transportation use for one year. That includes the increase in mass transit consumption minus the private consumption.

  • 1,848 pounds of hydrocarbons (like methane)
  • 1,320 pounds of carbon monoxide (CO)
  • 792 pounds of nitrogen oxide (NO)
  • 2,376,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2)

Environmental impact of 100 people choosing rideshare for one year: Keeping all of the above pollutants out of the atmosphere. Nearly 1,200 tons of pollution would stay out of the air we breathe.

Are you on board for saving money, less stress, a cleaner environment, less wear on your vehicle, less dependence on oil and less traffic?

MAD

Find a buddy to rideshare: Co-worker, classmate, friend, teammate, neighbor. Check with your school, college or employer to see if there is already an organized rideshare program. Meet before your first commute to discuss preferences:

  • Seating
  • Driving
  • Air conditioning
  • Food/Drink
  • Smoking
  • Music
  • Cell phones

Equitably split the driving and the cost. If one of you is always going to drive, the other should pay more to cover the wear-and-tear on the vehicle and the other expenses.

Set a probationary period to be sure it is an arrangement you can both (or all three) abide. Discuss how you are going to handle days when you will not be available to ride/drive.

pirate treasure map

Meet right here. Then, turn left… four more blocks.

Set the itinerary. Know the route you are going to take and reasonably budget time for traffic hang ups, pit stops and emergencies.

Give your carpool participants’ names and information to someone else (Mate, office, Parent) in case of emergency. Make sure someone else knows the route you will be taking to and from your destination and how long it should take.

Be punctual.Β Do not make your rideshare buddy wait. You are both sacrificing a few minutes to save money. Be fair. Be on time. Dawdling can make you both late and cost you your jobs or demerits at school.

 

Make a Difference

Do something worthwhile with the $2,860. You can Make A Difference. MAD about traffic by cutting the number of cars on the road. MAD about your personal finances by spending less on commuting by carpooling. MAD about the environment by reducing emissions.

Can you cut your emissions into the environment? Would you rideshare with someone who works in a building close to you? Can you ride with friends when you go (to dinner, golfing, to the movies)? Do you want to save money on gasoline and vehicle repairs? Have you ever taken public transportation?

Β© Red Dwyer 2012
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20 Comments

  1. As much as I would like to save the air I breath, I hate ride-sharing. Here, is my story of my one experience:

    I lived two blocks away from someone I worked with (different departments) so we decided to share the 40 mile ride to work. Over time our daily 80 mile commute in truly ugly traffic turned to discussions of the office of course. Eventually she initiated a discussion about my boss (who I despised).

    Over the course of the next several months there were several discussions about office operations, bad audits, silly rules and of course my boss who by then I despised more. Little did I know she was sleeping with him (they were both married with children). Everything I said became pillow talk.

    I lost my job. She got a promotion. They got married.

    Lesson learned.

    As for public transportation. Yes, all over Europe, Japan, Singapore I rode subways and trains.
    valentinelogar recently posted..Cover your Head WomanMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 12, 2012

      I think that one is the anomaly. Eye-opening, but still an anomaly. I much prefer my commute from the kitchen to the office. Like Mike, uncertain of the mpg, but it is definitely better than most.

      Reply
  2. I used to ride the train. Once or twice a month I’d treat myself and drive to work. What a relief that was, almost as good as a vacation, despite the traffic jams and the amateurs behind the wheel.

    Now I drive a desk from the comfort of my home office. Not sure what the mpg is, but I bet it’s better than most people get.

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 12, 2012

      I am still trying to work out the depreciation from the kitchen to the office.

      Reply
  3. I think we should burn all the fossil fuels now so that the future generations won’t have any and therefore will be healthier and have less to worry about.
    Binky recently posted..Learning to DoMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 12, 2012

      I have contemplated that. We need to save enough for your rocket trips unless you are going to go nuclear…

      Reply
  4. I have no job, no transport and no need for it! πŸ™‚

    If I need to go anywhere I go by Taxi using local firms.

    Unfortunately since they were taken over I’ve been robbed four times by greedy Asian drivers, but fortunately they were all fired shortly afterwards…

    Love and hugs!

    Prenin.
    prenin recently posted..Thursday – Sunny weather.My Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 12, 2012

      Ever share a cab?

      Reply
      • Oh sure! πŸ™‚

        Usually getting Doug into Middleton to sign on before he went weird, or one of my neighbours who is a nice married lady who I gave a lift to one Christmas, Mark and Rose on the way to church – the usual thing! πŸ™‚

        I don’t do it all the time though…

        Love and hugs!

        Prenin.
        prenin recently posted..Thursday – Sunny weather.My Profile

        Reply
        • Red

           /  April 17, 2012

          Good. As expensive as petrol is, I can only imagine the highway robbery of taxis. Best to share when you can. {HUGZ} Red.

          Reply
  5. Absolutely not and just lately with the roads being up for repair it has been a right pain in the… Well you know? πŸ™‚ lol

    I was just reading your friends comments about trains, I have not been on a train in literally years, probably the very last time was on the Rocket πŸ™‚ Yes okay, so it was truly a long time ago…

    Saving money on fuel is a tad difficult with the prices around here, at the moment it is Β£1.45 per litre so not very good on the pocket and it is going up again soon, how greedy of them (The Government that is πŸ™ ) but after saying that I do like to drive opposed to any other mode of transport so I will just have to pay for it and stop moaning πŸ™‚ lol

    Actually I was talking to my sister the other day and it was mentioned that I have been driving for thirty five years, so I am either a lot older than I thought or… Well actually I am still working on the Peter Pan Experiment but when reality kicks in and one realises, such as with the driving scenario, it just brings to the fore and makes one realise how time just zooms by my great friend πŸ™‚

    Right now as I have completed my A to Z in just ten days I am looking forward to a weekend of Formula One, it is the Chinese grand Prix and so I am looking forwards to that, of and a bit of relaxing for a change πŸ™‚ Have a wonderful rest of evening Red and don’t I witter on? πŸ™‚ lol

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 12, 2012

      I have not been on a train in nearly 30 years. I lived in NYC and never once took the subway. Guapo and Rachael tease me about it.

      I have been driving nearly that long, but I am certain I started a mite earlier than you πŸ˜‰ We are nearly the same age, if my math hold πŸ˜‰

      I shall have to wait on your much awaited Y post for a few more, as I need to finish a post before I turn in…I have 850 miles to drive tomorrow. Do not get me started on the gasoline prices. Just thinking of it makes me Red.

      Enjoy your races. I am looking forward to your answers for K!

      Reply
  6. Hey I had forgotten for the moment about your trip over to your parents home and I hope that your stay is a really wonderful one Red, it is always very nice to visit and as your trip is eight hundred and fifty miles you will be in need of a good rest and lots of relaxation, of which I feel sure that you will have lots of both πŸ™‚ I passed my driving test at seventeen so there you have it, I am getting to be an old timer me thinks? πŸ™‚ lol But a jolly one at that even though I say it myself πŸ˜‰ Okay Red I am out of here, I have a few groceries to pick up and I am also waiting to hear about a cat that I am hoping to adopt, well she will be very happy being that she has been in care for over twelve months or so, and all cats that have been neglected or abandoned deserve good homes… Yes I am going next πŸ™‚ lol Witter, witter…

    Have a lovely trip and be good, if you can of course? πŸ™‚ lol

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 17, 2012

      I have done rather well. Just over 1,600 miles in just under 24 hours. We had a blast. But by now, you have seen some of the pictures. Hope you got the cat!

      Reply
  7. These are very timely suggestions with the gas prices skyrocketing around the world! I try to write a list of the places I need to go and get them accomplished in one route; I start with the place farthest away from me and work my way closer back home. That way I (hopefully) use less gas in the processs.
    Christy Birmingham recently posted..Friendship Is A WorldMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 17, 2012

      That is an excellent way to save. Especially if you make sure your trip is at least three stops. I have some other posts around here which can save you a pretty penny on petrol. Just search gasoline…

      Reply
  8. I have taken public transportation (bus, taxi, subway…)

    I would love to save money on gas and repairs, but I am fortuante to stay at home and not use my vehicle as often as I would if I worked full-time. My van is a 2004 and still doesn’t have 100,000 miles on it.

    If I worked with someone where we could carpool, I would, but I hate being at someone else’s mercy. I rode with a friend to college and I would have to stay later if she was driving and wanted to hang out. It sucked.
    lorrelee1970 recently posted..AccessMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 18, 2012

      That is the whole…work it out before you start thing. Keeps from getting your feelings smashed in the car door. I have to save on gasoline when I can. I turned over 200K in my truck this weekend. I drive A. L.O.T.

      Reply
  9. Honestly, depending on the road, I don’t really mind traffic all that much – unless I’m in a hurry. Or need to pee.
    El Guapo recently posted..Friday Foolishness – Meta EditionMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 22, 2012

      That is why I only drive a little over 100K per year. I hate it.

      Reply

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