Are you always in your car? Fed up with spending big bucks at the gas pump? Tired of traffic headaches? Here’s your chance to learn how to drive less and save more, while winning great prizes, including a 1st Place prize provided by Intel of a Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop computer with an Intel® Pentium® Dual Core processor. Enter the Drive Less/Save More Family Challenge in May.
The Drive Less/Save More Campaign is looking for three families in the Portland metro area who are willing to put their skills to the test for one week to reduce the number of miles they drive. Experts will be on hand to coach families on how to drive smarter and take advantage of travel options.
All participating families will receive an incentive package to help them compete in the challenge. Items will include gift certificates for home delivery services, list pads and organizers, driving tools and bus tickets, as well as walking and biking gear.
If you’re interested, e-mail your name and phone number to contact@drivelesssavemore.com. Please put “Challenge” in the subject line.
Enter to Win!
With gas prices soaring are you feeling the need to use other transportation options in order to drive less, but think you’ll still need a car from time to time? Zipcar is your answer. With Zipcar, you can reserve a car over the Internet or phone near you, drive it for as long as you need and then return it to its spot.
We’re partnering with Zipcar this month to offer you the chance to try this great service. Be one of five lucky winners to receive a Zipcar membership with a $50 driving credit by sending us an e-mail at contact@drivelesssavemore.com and entering Zipcar in the subject line. Offer ends April 30.
Life in the Fast Lane
Have a question about driving or communting? Ask an Expert and you’ll learn how to drive less and save more! COMING SOON
Transit Connection
Ask an Expert about all things transit related. COMING SOON
Bike It!
Ask an Expert about all things bicycle related. COMING SOON
What’s In A Car Trip?
Did you know the average Portland household drives an average of 39 miles each day? That costs about $5.32 or nearly $2,000 a year at $3 gas. And it’s not just our pocketbooks that get dinged by lots of driving. Transportation is one of Oregon's largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), which contribute to global warming. An estimated 38 percent of C02 emissions are directly tied to transportation (mostly from cars and trucks). The average American car releases nearly a pound of C02 into the atmosphere for each mile driven.
Are you like most Portland residents: always on the road, spending lots of time in traffic and money at the gas pump?
Do you want to use your car less to help the environment, but there just seems to be too much to do and too many places to go? Drive Less/Save More, launched by Metro, ODOT and its partners, is here to help you be more travel savvy whether in your car or taking advantage of the area’s many practical travel options. Reducing your car trips can save wear and tear on you, your wallet and the planet!
Visit www.DriveLessSaveMore.com to learn more.
Tips for Cutting Trips
Think about all those errands you do. The miles add up driving from place to place. Most of the trips we take, 67 percent, are non-work related. Here’s a reminder on how you can cut down on all those car trips.
- Make a list. Put together a shopping list of everything you need to avoid last-minute, single purpose trips to the store.
- Combine errands. Try combining all your errands and appointments into one trip.
- Map out your route. Figure out the fastest way to get where you need to go. Online mapping tools can point you to nearby stores and show you the best way of getting from place to place.
- Try making only right turns. UPS experts have found that left turns tend to take more time and waste more gas than right turns because drivers often have to wait for traffic or lights to change.
- Take alternate routes. Know the ‘back way’ so you won’t always need to sit in traffic jams.
- Avoid backtracking. Doubling back creates needless travel that can be avoided by following pre-planned routes.
- Go local. Explore neighborhood shops and restaurants instead of going across town.
- Avoid peak traffic hours. Try to do your errands during non-peak travel times rather than rush hour.
- Shop online first. Check out what stores have to offer using the Internet before you get in your car. It might save you a trip.
- Do you need to make the trip? Sometimes it’s best to not go somewhere until you’ve got another item to get or a nearby trip to make. Home delivery services might also enable you to avoid the trip altogether.