How can I make my transportation habits more sustainable?

Here are some ideas you should consider:

• Don't drive a car around campus. Walk or bike whenever possible.
• When going to or from campus, try to take public transportation and carpool as much as possible. Use the Wesleyan Ride Board to find other people who are offering/need rides.
• Take advantage of Connecticut's Commuter Tax Benefit. This allows commuters to set aside up to $115 per month on a pre-tax basis for transit and vanpool fares. If you are using public transportation or are enrolled in a vanpool, follow these steps:
      1. Download and complete the Payroll Deduction Form
      2. Return the form to the Payroll office via campus mail.
      3. Submit receipts to Human Resources along with the Claim Form.
      4. You will be reimbursed for eligible expenses through payroll.
      5. To change the amounts or terminate the deductions at any time,
          contact benefits@wesleyan.edu

If you absolutely have to drive:

• Drive more slowly than you normally do. This increases your gasoline efficiency and decreases the number of times you need to fill up.
• As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. (fueleconomy.gov)
• Use shopping lists and other strategies to plan better for the times you do need to use your car, in order to avoid having to go back for more trips.
• If you're buying a new automobile, be conscious of how many miles per gallon it will get. This is listed on the sticker. Performance and "sex appeal" in an automobile do little good if there is not enough gasoline to drive it.
• Avoid jackrabbit starts when pulling away from a light or stop sign. This consumes more fuel than an even acceleration.
• Be sure that your tires are inflated to the proper pressure. This can improve mileage by as much as 10%.
• Use of radial tires on all your wheels can improve your fuel efficiency a great deal.
• Don't let your automobile idle for more than 30 seconds without turning it off.
• Avoid using air conditioning, which can increase the amount of gasoline used per trip.
• Whenever possible, close windows and use the air vents so as to reduce aerodynamic drag, which lowers the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.
• Make sure your automobile is well-tuned up to ensure that it is getting the most miles per gallon.
• Avoid using drive-up windows at banks and other so-called convenience outlets. This adds to gasoline wastage and pollutes the air.

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