7 Ways to Cut Down on Your Daily Driving

Everybody hates a long commute. It's bad for your body, the environment, and morale. And with gas prices on the continual rise, it's in your best interest to decrease your daily driving. If you're a tree-hugging hippie or a burned-out commuter, you'll benefit from these seven ways to save your gas money and your sanity by cutting down on motoring.

1. Ridesharing

   

   One simple way for commuters to cut their drive time in half is to share their cars and catch rides with others. Carpooling (often called ridesharing) is no longer just for school children, and if you've got a long commute, it could be just the ticket. Urban carpools are becoming popular worldwide, with Singapore's MyRideBuddy and France's Green Monkeys leading the way in online, real-time carpooling. Many other cities offer rideshare programs and rewards for carpoolers.

2. Public Transportation

   

   Depending on your global location, you could have the option of several types of public "T" — subway, metro, train, tube, bus, rail car, park and ride, monorail, or trolley car. There are as many types of public transportation as there are types of cities, and it's important for those concerned with drive time that you know what's available to you. Know what your city has to offer, and learn your most efficient, safest route. The best public transportation cities in the United States are New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Boston.

3. Telecommute

   

   It's good for the environment, employees, and companies. And working remotely is the way of the future. If your work doesn't require you to be location specific, ask your supervisor if you can work from home. Telecommuting can increase productivity and worker satisfaction, as well as decrease your daily drive.

4. Shop Online

   

   If you're a shopper, consider cutting down on redundant errands by making purchases online. E-commerce can annihilate the need for lots of daily driving, as your purchased products are delivered to your home. For example, clothing retailer Asos.com has both free initial and return shipping, and many other sites offer similar cost-saving measures. Online shopping might also diminish other expensive habits, as you can fill your cart without feeling the pressure to purchase.

5. Quit Your Job

   

   If you've always wanted to have a mid-life crisis, now's your chance. Quitting your job to hang out on the couch all day will cut down on driving and gas consumption — in the short term. Be warned: when you get a new job, you'll have to find a way to get to it.

6. Combine Trips

   

   Growing up is hard to do, and some of those tough realizations come at ideal times. One sure sign that you're maturing is the day you start planning your errands, consolidating trips to lower gas consumption and use your time wisely and well. Need to go to the grocery store and pick up your dry cleaning? Do it between your dentist appointment and your kids' soccer game, and plan your route accordingly. While it may take a little more time at the outset, you'll be happy when your errands are done and your gas gauge doesn't read "empty."

7. Walk

   

   If you live in an urban area, try walking or biking to get where you need to go. Bonus: You'll be part of the smug hipster biking trend. You'll need to practice your side eye and erudite lecturing skills, as well as ride in cowboy boots, frameless glasses, and with your David Byrne book on cycling. Walking and biking provide much needed street credit to environmental mavens and hipsters alike. If you're going it alone, be smart and plan your route. Additionally, plan an alternate route in case of darkness or inclement weather.

Taken From Car Insurance Quotes