Drivers cut petrol use by 15%, AA research suggests

RenovationMan

This is great news for those of us who want to live a more sustainable life:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15176330

"Drivers have cut their petrol consumption by more than 15% since the credit crunch and the recession.

The AA has calculated that petrol sales in the first six months of 2011 were 1.7bn litres less than in the same period three years ago.

The AA says the drop in petrol sales is a direct result of record fuel prices."

Hopefully a few Chelsea Tractors will be traded in and some kids might actually *horror* have to walk to school!

Really2

I have cut my work fuel use by abut 30% and getting fit at the same time, it's great. (but getting a bit cold)

System

I work from home once per fortnight and use my motorbike more, that's around 15-20% I reckon.

doire_2

I'd love to use a bike to work but cycling in heavy rain and running the risk of getting run over by impatient drivers puts me off

wotsthat

I wonder if that's due to more careful driving or a reduction in miles.

A combination of the two I suppose although I'm not noticing a reduction in the number of cars on my commute.

RenovationMan

wotsthat wrote: »

I'm not noticing a reduction in the number of cars on my commute.

I'd imagine the reduction is more in unnecessary journeys such as popping to the shops, running little johnny to school, driving to the gym (!), etc.

No bad thing.

wotsthat

doire wrote: »

I'd love to use a bike to work but cycling in heavy rain and running the risk of getting run over by impatient drivers puts me off

Go for it!

I wish I lived close enough to work to make it feasible. I've taken up cycling more seriously in the last year. When I first made a comeback I was surprised at how drivers are now less considerate to cyclists than they were 20 years ago. Now though I've got used to it - you just need to be attentive and be ready to shout "you f***g t**t" loudly at a moments notice.

The roads are much much worse as well.

Dan:_4

doire wrote: »

I'd love to use a bike to work but cycling in heavy rain and running the risk of getting run over by impatient drivers puts me off

you lazy b*****d!

Really2

wotsthat wrote: »

Go for it!

I wish I lived close enough to work to make it feasible. I've taken up cycling more seriously in the last year. When I first made a comeback I was surprised at how drivers are now less considerate to cyclists than they were 20 years ago. Now though I've got used to it - you just need to be attentive and be ready to shout "you f***g t**t" loudly at a moments notice.

The roads are much much worse as well.

Agree on the roads, I am lucky as I can cycle path nearly 5/6ths of my journey.
And agree on go for it, it took me a few weeks to pluck up the courage.

I think on the car's is it is just because there are so many more of them.

My bugbear is currently pedestrians on mobiles etc, Cycle paths are fairly clear, picture of a bike one side, picture of a person on the other.
But fairly hard for your average mobile phone text zombie to understand.
The train station I have to cycle past is like the land of the living dead with mobile phones.

J_i_m

I don't it matters what kind of vehicle your're using, if a person is an inconsiderate road user, then'll they'll be that on bike or in car.

I wish there were more genuinely purpose built cycle paths, primarily because passing a cyclist on the road is a hazard and secondary I then might be persuded to use cycling as a form of commuting myself.

Mallotum_X

wotsthat wrote: »

I wonder if that's due to more careful driving or a reduction in miles.

A combination of the two I suppose although I'm not noticing a reduction in the number of cars on my commute.

Personally I havent dropped my milage but do drive slower/more carefully and have probably obtained about 10% or so extra miles per tank. Saying that theres still the need every so often to have a bit more fun and enjoy driving.