Improving personal fuel economy:
alternatives to cars

Ride a bicycle

Avoiding your car altogether has multiple benefits. Cycling burns no gasoline, causes no wear and tear on your car, and is good for your health. Using a bicycle equipped with baskets for short trips prevents dirty “cold start” emissions and avoids the short drives that are the most damaging to your car’s engine.

Choosing to live within biking distance of work may allow a two-car family to own just one car, saving thousands in purchase costs, fuel, insurance, vehicle registration fees and maintenance. And, ask any kid: biking is fun!

Help make your community become more bike friendly by advocating for bike lanes, trails interconnected to streets, installing bike racks at key locations, and promoting biking as a clean, healthy and safe mode of travel.

Ride the bus

Compared to driving, using public transit for travel or commuting uses less fuel, avoids wear and tear, allows you to relax during the trip, and reduces traffic congestion during rush hours, and you never have to worry about parking when you arrive.

If you have access to public transit but have never used it, commit to giving it a try for a week, or once a week for the next month. Once you learn the system and schedule, you’ll see how easy it can be.

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority is rated the best rural transit service in Colorado. Buses run from Aspen to Rifle, with in-town circulators in Aspen and Glenwood Springs. For a complete schedule of transit service in the region, visit www.rfta.com

RFTA is also planning a Bus Rapid Transit system from Glenwood Springs to Aspen to be launched by late 2012. It’s designed to shorten the total travel time to 60 minutes, shaving 15 minutes or more off the existing service schedule. More information on VelociRFTA, the bus rapid transit system.

Note: Homes and business located within walking distance of transit stops have higher value than those in areas without transit.

Walking

Walkable communities give residents access to services they need on a frequent basis within a convenient distance that’s safe and easy to walk.

Choosing to live in a walkable community saves the time and money otherwise spent in and on a car. Walking allows residents who don’t own a car to participate in the community.

Best of all, walking has health benefits, including arriving at your destination less stressed, and avoids toxic cold-start emissions from cars that pollute the air.

Promote walking in your community by getting your government involved in safe streets, traffic calming, mixed use development, public spaces, trail linked to streets, and an overall vision committed to walkability.