Not fully on topic but one commuting behavior I changed about eighteen months ago has been resoundingly helpful.
I stopped driving like a jackass.
I used to accelerate rapidly at every green light and decelerate rapidly at every red light.
I stopped doing both of these things. I went from an average of getting 267 miles per tank of gas to 322, an over 20% increase.
Instead of wondering why my tires and brakes lasted half as long as everyone else they now last longer than average.
The amazing thing is I get to my destinations just as quickly. I always used to wonder how the ETA was still accurate on Waze even when I drove at full speed. All I was doing was racing to the next red light.
I’m embarrassed writing this because I drove so stupidly for so long. If it helps anyone else, here is my stupidity for all to see.
I did something similar about 10 years ago after getting a speeding ticket - drive within the speed limit and don't be aggressive. I found it made a huge difference: less fuel used, less wear and tear on car and far less stressful. I also noticed that I didn't seem to get anywhere that much slower...
I went through a similar change from my sparkier first years of driving as a teen and early twenty something to now.
The motivation incidentally wasn't to improve economy or avoid citations. It was mostly to reduce the frustration of feeling like I was constantly being impeded by others who weren't interested in driving as aggressively as I had been, and partially an increased interest in safety.
It worked. Driving is much less stressful with cruise control.
I stopped driving like a jackass.
I used to accelerate rapidly at every green light and decelerate rapidly at every red light.
I stopped doing both of these things. I went from an average of getting 267 miles per tank of gas to 322, an over 20% increase.
Instead of wondering why my tires and brakes lasted half as long as everyone else they now last longer than average.
The amazing thing is I get to my destinations just as quickly. I always used to wonder how the ETA was still accurate on Waze even when I drove at full speed. All I was doing was racing to the next red light.
I’m embarrassed writing this because I drove so stupidly for so long. If it helps anyone else, here is my stupidity for all to see.