Super Eco

Photo credit: SXC

I want to know which one of us is responsible for this: Americans are totally slacking off in the driving department. Aren't we supposed to be alone in the driver's seats of behemoth SUVs, driving two blocks to the corner to pick up a latte? Are we headed toward eco-efficiency and a reduction in dependence on foreign oil? How perfectly ... lovely.

True. Americans are driving less. It began when gas prices started going sky-high last spring (remember that? $4-plus a gallon?), but even though prices have dipped precipitously, we're still not driving more again. Which means that habits are changing.

A new report by the Brookings Institute indicates that we may never go back to pre-sky-high gas-price driving levels. Why? A number of reasons, mostl of which aren't even related to the cost of gas or the potential of Peak Oil. Apparently we feel we own enough cars. And that we don't need to drive more than we do. And more of us are using public transportation. And we don't need to drive as far anymore because the malls have gotten closer to us. And some of us are out of work.

While we still haven't dropped to our 1992 driving levels, all indicators point to less driving for us in the future. What does that mean to you? Is there more bicycling in your life? Are you carpooling? Taking the bus? Or can you walk where you need to go? This is a trend that bears watching.

(Photo credit: SXC)