Gas prices make bicycle commuters

According to a Springfield News-Leader article:

Joey Kramer of Winona has simple solutions to the skyrocketing gasoline prices.

"We'll walk more, bike more, and we've got no trip this summer," said Kramer, as he recently paid $3.29 per gallon at a Springfield gas station to fill up a family van.

they may be quietly making changes, big and small, to deal with the rising energy costs. . . .

As expected, motorists are whining and fussing at gas pumps, but they are not making as much noise as in 2005. . . .

"I'm just driving less and doing a better job planning my trips," said Geoffrey Butler of the architecture firm Butler, Rosenbury and Partners.

Bike commuting--even a day or two a week--is a great way to save some of that gas money while getting in shape.

Many people combine bicycling with transit or even driving part way--for instance, by taking a combination of bike and bus into work and then bicycling all the way home, or tackling a long commute by driving partway and then bicycling the rest--gradually increasing the distance bicycled as you get in better shape.

Another option is to walk or bicycle on short utility trips--starting with the shortest trips (which pollute the most & add the most wear & tear on your automobile) and gradually working out.

See MoBikeFed's list of bicycle commuting resources here.