Walking Anders to School

While I may own a Prius, and encourage everybody to do so as well, I have no delusions that I am holier-than-thou-who-drives-a SUV. Ok, well maybe I suffer slightly from delusions, but only a tiny bit.

The true environmental heroes are the people that cut driving out of their daily routines altogether and take public transportation or work from home entirely to minimize their carbon footprint. Not only is it better for their environment, their risk of getting injured in a car accident have also been slashed.

I am still an oil addict, I just try to use less of the drug than others.

Here is a recent quote from the NYT:

To the Editor:

Re “The Gas-Guzzler Gambit” (editorial, May 1):

I couldn’t agree more that suspending the federal gas tax is a completely unhelpful idea. Consumers need to change their habits, not have their current habits pandered to.

Because of high gas prices, I now walk my fifth-grade son to school every morning. It’s a mile of exercise and good conversation for both of us. It’s particularly gratifying when we walk past long lines of S.U.V.’s stopped at traffic lights, all going to the same place we are. Do we really want to make it easier for those drivers?

Kevin Griffith
Columbus, Ohio, May 1, 2008

I look forward to walking Anders to school as well. Even if it makes him late for first period, whether my fault or his, I’ll write him a note.

In the mean time, I cling to the hope that America is a land of pragmatic and salt of the earth people. Maybe there is some hope As Gas Costs Soar, Buyers Flock to Small Cars.