It’s finally time to dump the pump!
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Dan Peacock
Published: June 23, 2008
Everyday the media announces a new increase in crude oil prices and gas pump prices. In the last two months alone, the average price of unleaded gas has increased in Manassas, Virginia, from about
$3.35 to $3.95 a gallon — an 18 percent spike! Such steep increases can be very discouraging and make one wonder who is going to bring these gas prices down: government, media, oil producing
countries, refiners, speculators or oil companies? Who will be our energy savior? None of the above, but ourselves.
As the current VRE Web site states: “Dump the Pump!” You can do one or more of the following to reduce energy and save money tomorrow:
1. Switch from driving to work alone and join a carpool or vanpool by logging on to http://www.commuterconnections.com.
2. Ride to work on Metro, MARC, or VRE.
3. Slow down on the highway from 65 mph to 55 mph.
4. Tune your vehicle.
5. Plan ahead to reduce the number of trips to stores, banks and restaurants.
6. Take vacations closer to home.
7. Buy an Ommilink Summer Bus pass for your teenager to ride for two months for only $20. In addition, contact your state Senate and House representatives to support the governor’s proposal on June
23 to restore transportation funding for all forms of travel and improve the infrastructure in the next one to three years. Finally, when time to buy a new vehicle, shun the the latest 10 to 15 mpg “Dinosaur
SUV” hog and buy a 40 to 55 mpg Honda Civic or Toyota Prius Hybrid.
So, don’t wait for government, media, industry, oil producers, speculators, oil companies or any other “savior.” Take charge of your own energy future now!
DAN PEACOCK
Manassas
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( barnun ) on June 27, 2008 at 2:42 pm
write your state congressman/woman and tell them to put pressure on the US auto industry to sell us the same high MPG cars they sell in the UK. They’ve sold these cars in the UK for many years. these cars will pass US safety standards as well as Va emissions, so why aren’t they sold here ? Dodge sold a 4 wheel drive pickup in the US in 1983 that got 45 mpg. Honda sold a civic in the US in 1983 that got 55 mpg. Imagine from that time until now all the gas that has been wasted using the autos that the US auto industry chooses to allow us.
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Posted by ( urf8 ) on June 23, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Good advice, but many will not take it. I traded in my 19 MPG combined city/highway SUV for a Prius; now I average 50 MPG; I’d get better mileage if I could safely drive at 55 MPH, but other drivers tail-gate (well I guess around here they do it at any speed), honk, and some have given me dirty looks and even flipped me off for driving 65 MPH--and yes I drive in the right lane where slower traffic is supposd to be, unlike more than half of the drivers in the area. Also, for those who can adjust their work hours, try going into work earlier or even later to avoid peak rush hour traffic, it’ll save some gas as well.
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Posted by ( QuestionAuthority ) on June 23, 2008 at 7:19 am
Excellent letter!
Also consider buying a bike. There are a growing number of bike trails in the county. I ride the bike to the store all the time.
Keep your vehicle tires inflated properly.
PRTC OmniRide! An excellent and relaxing way to get to DC from PWC.
Contact your elected representatives & ask them to keep up the great work on bike trails and increase funding for public transportation.
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