As I live and work in downtown Gainesville, Florida, gas prices don’t hit me too hard. My Toyota Matrix gets pretty good mileage (usually 30-36 mpg), However, I have this crazy habit of driving about 15 miles out of town to ride my mountain bike at San Felasco State Park. Of course, when I stick to pavement I can ride to the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail (16 mile paved rails-to-trail) from home. But, I like mountain biking (and getting bitten by ticks, this time of year, every time I stop to look at a plant or mushroom). So I drive.
Now, I am trying to improve my gas mileage by accelerating slower and not going faster than 60 mph (I recently heard that every 5 mph you go over 60 adds 30 cents a gallon to your gas costs, though I believe that may be for bigger cars than mine). Driving slow is difficult as I have always been somewhat of a lead foot! I even put a note on my speedometer to remind me (it says “Easy, Leadfoot!”). Driving up US 441 today the speed limit goes up to 65 mph. Coming off a red light, I start slow, but I’m in the left lane (haven’t broke the habit of moving to the empty lane). So, this guy next to me speeds up to 60 mph and parks it by me. Now I got an SUV crawling up my butt & I want to let him by (after all that used to be me). I gently speed up to pull past this guy, and of course, he speeds up right beside me. Next, I try slowing down & the @#$%er slows down too! (maybe he is mad at my bumper stickers?) Next thing I know I am honking and gesturing worse than if I was driving leadfoot style! Finally, I slow down enough to get behind him (of course by now we both have cars on our butts & I have to cut between him & his tailgater). But, I do manage to chillout, laugh & put the cruise control back to 60 mph. Obviously I still have some adjusting to do!
The bike ride was nice, found my first Chanterelles & Oyster Mushrooms of the season! Four ticks on me, but only one got a bite of me (that I found so far!).
I’ve heard that too, though with different numbers, I think it was over 55 mph or even over 50! I don’t remember. Anyway, generally it’s probably a pretty good idea. I’ve seen all these things on gas-economizing and it mentions things like this, not accelerating too quickly, coasting as much as possible etc. and what was cool is it described my regular driving habits back when I had a car!
After the cold of winter passed I’ve gotten into a regular habit of biking to work now. It’s just easier than taking the bus. Easier, cheaper and faster too (15-20 minutes at a brisk pace, 25 at an easy coast) I hope I can keep it up during the winter but I bet I chicken out. Meanwhile I’m saving tons of money on transportation! Gives me more money to spend on eating out and going out to the movies but that’s another story! lol…
have a good one!
Dude – Why so many tick bites?