California Drivers Are Reducing Driving, Saving Gas & Lowering Greenhouse Gases

The way we travel from place to place in the Bay Area greatly affects the environment, with half of our greenhouse gases coming from motor vehicles.  Californians are now driving less, driving "smarter" and taking transit more, motivated by the high cost of gasoline, the economy and concern for the environment.  Sales of gasoline in June 2008 were 7.5 percent below the previous June.  Join your friends and neighbors, get out of your car and
Spare the Air Every Day!

The Spare the Air Everyday campaign is jointly sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) to educate and encourage changes in our everyday behavior that save gas while protecting the climate and reducing air pollution.  By taking transit, reducing driving, linking trips, ridesharing, walking and biking, we can improve air quality and reduce the Bay Area’s carbon footprint.  Here are some tips to get you started.

Travel Smart:

1. Take transit –The average U.S. household spends 18 cents of every dollar on vehicle-related transportation, the largest source of household spending after home mortgages.  Visit the 511 Transit page to find schedules and route maps, and to plan your trip using the Transit Trip Planner. You can also call 511 to be directly transferred to any Bay Area transit agency for free. Just say "Transit Agencies" at the Main Menu and then the agency you'd like.
   
   
2. Carpool – Visit the 511 Rideshare page to sign up for a carpool. All you need is one or two other people to make it work. Check out the 511 RideMatch Service to instantly find neighbors and people who work nearby with whom you can commute. You can also call 511 to be directly connected to 511 Rideshare. Just say "Ridesharing" at the Main Menu.
   
   
3. Walk or ride a bike – It’s good for your health and a climate-friendly way to commute. Visit the 511 Bicycling page to use the 511 BikeMapperSM and to find locations of lockers and racks, information on how to take your bike on public transit and across Bay Area toll bridges, tips on commuting, and more. You can also call 511 to be directly connected to the 511 Bike Operator. Just say "Bicycling" at the Main Menu.
   
   
4. Telecommute – Save time and money.  Ask your employer if you can telecommute one day a week to start. If you’re a part-time telecommuter, can you increase the number of telecommute days?
   
   
5. Skip a trip – Leave the car at home.  
   
   
6. Trip-link – Consolidate trips and cut down on driving time, gas, greenhouse gases and air pollution.  Every gallon of gas you save by driving less reduces 20 pounds of carbon dioxide.
   
   
7. Keep luggage inside your vehicle, not on the roof.  Roof racks cut fuel economy by over 20%.  Removing the roof rack further improves gas mileage.

Drive Smart:

1. Slow down – Reduce speeds from 75 to 65 mph and increase your gas mileage by 15%.
   
   
2. Smooth and steady – Accelerate and decelerate smoothly. Reduce aggressive driving to increase gas mileage by up to 33% (highway) and 5% (streets).  Use cruise control to reduce speed changes.
   
   
3. Tune it up – Improve mileage by 4%.
   
   
4. Lighten the load – Clean out the car and the trunk.  For every 100 pounds you remove, fuel economy will increase by 2%.
   
   
5. Pump ‘em up – Inflate tires to the recommended pressure and improve mileage by 2 to 3%.  Don’t know how?  Watch "Pump Your Ride" at www.wecansolveit.org.  Check tire pressure monthly.
   
   
6. Drive your most fuel-efficient vehicle to get the best fuel economy.
   
   
7. Check your cap – A missing or broken gas cap reduces gas efficiency by 2%.
   
   
8. Check the air filter – Replace a clogged air filter and increase gas mileage by 10%.

Stay Informed:

Register for AirAlerts to be notified of Spare the Air Days in advance so you can protect your health and the environment. Learn more about Bay Area air quality and what you can do to help protect it at sparetheair.org.