NewVA Moves

Its How we Drive, not What we Drive

Check out my Letter to the Editor in today's Roanoke Times (first letter on the page).  It's in response to an earlier writer defending her SUV ownership against a critic complaining of the gas-guzzling vehicle.  The defense is correct - a vehicle is a major investment, and people can't just swap them out whenever they feel like it.  My own family drives a minivan that gets OK gas mileage, and as much as I would like something more efficienct we're just not in a position to trade out for a Prius at the moment.

This gets back to an earlier op-ed I published in the Roanoke Times, "The Miles Not Drive," as well as blogged about:  technology is part, but not all of the solution; behavior plays as important a role, if not more important.  Most everyone has the capacity to change some aspect of their driving behavior now, while not anyone can afford a new car or Energy Star appliance.  That's why RIDE Solutions puts emphasis on behavior change and mode-shift; it's not about talking up hybrids, but how to use your existing options more wisely.