Anyway, I would say that making the transition for leading a greener life should be gradual and at one’s own pace within means. In other words, if you’ve been driving for decades and then up and sell your car tomorrow and then expect to start using transit for all your mobility needs the day after that, you’re fooling yourself.

Also, when you make the transition: think long-term. When you buy clothing, particularly, everyday wear: stick with the staples and for crying out loud, purchase quality clothing. One of the reasons the quality of our clothes — and consumer items in general — have deteriorated so much is because most of us have bought into this “it can break or rip because I can replace it tomorrow” mantra. Buy quality the first time, so that it can be repaired or mended. I am a big buy: 6′3″ and 220lbs, and I use transit and my legs to move around. This means that I need quality shoes, and when they become worn out, I just have them re-soled, and I’ve saved hundreds by doing that. In regards to clothing. I buy good, quality clothing so that they can be mended without ruining the fabric and the untrained eye would never know. Thankfully, my mom taught me how to mend my own socks and pants seems, but I do understand that that isn’t typical for most guys. But, simply find a decent dry-cleaners.

Also, eat less but more quality foods. I’ve tried it, and it works. As a matter of fact, that’s part of the reason I’ve lost so much weight (that and walking everywhere). I eat more fruit and veggies, but I buy just enough to get by, which eliminates waste because I use up everything I buy. I do not shop in bulk even when a hurricane is threatening our area. I just get enough for 72 hours, if that.

Now, those who claim that they don’t have time to shop every few days, that’s understandable, but you’d be surprised how you find time when you give it a try. I used to say the same thing, but I’ve found that if you want something to work, it kinda does.

I have a 37 mile one way commute. I live in a rural area and I work in another rural area where there is no public transportation. Sure I could work closer to home if I wanted to take a $7 per hour paycut, or moving closer to work would entail paying rent (which I do not do presently). I have a non hybrid car that gets 34 mpg (looking into hypermiling) so I fill up 3 times every two weeks ($240 per month up $60 a month from last year) . I have considered a motorcyle, but in northeast ohio that is only good for about 5 months out of the year (if it isnt raining, and we have get a lot of rain).

I don’t think there are any easy answers to this, but like it or not, people are going to have to make changes in the way they drive.

A local insurance company is running a contest – $10 million to the team that can engineer a car that can get 100 miles to the gallon and be put into production in the US. Germany has been doing it for years. European cars routinely get over 50 mpg. I don’t see why we can’t either.

Stevie B., why don’t you simply split for on of the great and “perfect” European countries? What is holding you back? The Europeans are much better at everything including not using as much water among all of the other things not listed.

As far as living in the third world comment. For my specific example, yes, I would suggest that person is trying to live like they do in the third world, in a faux reality where wiping your butt with ONE square piece of TP is “cool”, buying organically grown and local produce at Whole Paycheck for $300/week is “the right thing to do” and last, but not least, ranting and raving about how the US needs to become more like Europe is so “vogue”.

Your comments about living on a cup of rice a day are odd to say the least. What are you suggesting or hinting at here? That 300+ million American’s should starve themselves? The folks in this world living on a cup of rice a day are starving sir, malnourished and are not something we should be striving for you dork.

Notice I skip the pathetic personal insults…..Well other than you being a “dork”, which is a pretty minor insult considering I lost my conscience “years ago”. How did I manage not to insult you more sans a conscience?

It only seems to note the stops that are listed on the schedule on the local transit system’s website. There are a lot of unlisted stops that I drive by every time we go there.

Hampton Roads residents can use Traffix (http://www.traffixonline.org/) to find alternative transportation modes.

I have been doing a lot of the things you speak of for years….years before it was the “cool” thing to do because I felt like it and I saved money doing so. I didn’t need a blog or Al Gore to tell me if I take 45-minute showers, twice a day, I will pay through the nose. Just don’t tell me to do them or I am a bad guy. And that IS the implication I get from the greater media these days.

And yes, many folks are reverting to a third-world existence if you ask me. Limit the use of toilet paper? WTF? You are making $75K a year and using one square of TP? It’s a joke. Just go poop out in the backyard and use a leaf.

I pay for the gas and electricity to heat the hot water and if I want to take a 8-minute steaming hot shower, I shouldn’t be looked down upon. This riles my feathers as you can tell. I am not a bad guy and I am big into the environment, but the “solutions” being tossed around are PATHETIC!!!!

Who can give up their car? Seriously? If you have a car, you obviously need one.

Some folks are using greywater tanks, yes. Some people are being very conservative with the TP, yes. Some people are buying used clothes, yes. These are admittedly extreme cases.

As for the rest…. recycling, turning off the lights, taking short showers (I don’t advocate taking cold ones — potentially unhealthy), busing, biking, buying local foods, what’s wrong with any of that?

Especially on the topic of buying local foods, I would point out that in doing so you are supporting the local economy, also, and maybe saving a few local jobs from being gobbled up.

There are maybe three things I miss about having a car.
1) an on-demand social life. Being sociable with a friend across town can take upwards of an hour or two to get there…and back.
2) Carrying groceries in the car. Cause on your back or in a lot of sacks you carry isn’t so fun. On the other hand many supermarkets do local deliveries now.
3) hmmm…can’t think of the third one right now. Must not be important

It’s a little wiggly in spots. If you want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, it may tell you to exit at a point that will require a grappling hook and rope. It has no qualms about telling you to take a bus one stop to get to a subway station when the subway station is in easy walking distance from your starting point. But all in all? Not bad.

I sold my car shortly after moving to Brooklyn. I hope I get as reliable a car the next time I buy one, but for now? It’s feet, mass transit, the occasional cab, and no regrets about not owning a car.

What is going on these days? I am literally baffled at the level folks are going to.

If this is the way you want to live, I am honestly confused.

We got folks who would die to live here to use all of our services, drive cool cars, shop at our stores etc…….and then we got folks who live in the US that want to live like they do in rural Azerbaijan.

I am all for some of these ideas, but you combine a bunch and it is just the way I don’t want to live!

I own a sport bike and even that gets 50-60 mpg.