Politicans and many environmental adovates are always discussing the need for more efficent cars. They note that a 20 MPG car uses 1/3 more fuel then a 30 MPG car if driven the same amount of miles.

But why do we have to drive so far? As a nation we are always traveling further and further. Indeed, while are cars are much more efficient then decades ago, we end up using more gasoline as we drive further. Nobody wants to give up their travel or going on vacations. Nobody wants to be prevented from going to the woods or being able to drive where-ever and whenever they want to go. It’s nice to be able to hop in our cars and go to the stores on the weekend or whenever it’s convenient.

Yet, there is a type of driving that nobody enjoys, yet so many are stuck with doing. This type of driving is commuting. There is not much freedom or enjoyment in driving back and forth to work—the same way—fighting traffic. There are times I like to take my truck to work, such as when I need to leave early to stop and get things on the way to or from work. But I also enjoy mass transit. Not only does it save money it also saves time and allows you to relax as your transported to work.

It is enjoyable to use mass transit—when the system works. The new CDTA buses are relaxing, a perfect place to relax and listen to your headphones or work on your laptop while you are transported to work. Yet, for many of us good mass transit is hard to come by, with buses running infrequently to major destinations. If your not using your car or truck all the time for commuting, then you are skipping all of those carbon dioxide and toxic emissions. Your fuel economy of your truck doesn’t really matter one way or another for occassional use.