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Driving less.
The mantra of those who purport to care about the environment is that Americans should drive less. But what if you just can't?
The New York Times examines that thought today:
"People can't change where they live," said Richard Porter, an economics professor at the University of Michigan. "They can't change where they work, and there aren't any clear substitutes to gas. You can't run your car on much else. It's not like switching from oranges to grapefruits."I know this well. The company I am currently working with is about 60 miles from my home. They are very gracious in allowing me to telecommute, but I still need to go in a few days each week.
The hours and the location make it difficult to carpool, and I do not have the option of public transit. And most people in the same situation would have the option of reducing gas consumption at all.
We have built a society that is predicated on cars and roads. Wishing that away just isn't going to happen, and unless we are willing to more to mass telecommuting, or companies are willing to locate smaller offices in different cities, then we can't just suddenly change.