Alternatives to the High Price of Gas

President Bush Calls for Conserving Fuel by Using Transit

(reprinted from the October 10, 2005, issue of Passenger Transport)

President Bush has called on Americans to conserve gasoline by driving less, and issued a directive for all federal agencies to cut their own energy use and encourage employees to use public transportation.

The President, in the Sept. 26 directive, said, "A key component of this Administration's hurricane response plan is to ensure that sufficient supplies of natural gas, gasoline, and diesel fuel are available throughout the country."

He directed the heads of federal government agencies to "temporarily curtail non-essential travel and other activities that use gasoline or diesel fuel, and encourage employees to carpool, telecommute, and use public transportation to reduce fuel use."

The New York Times reported Sept. 28: "At the White House, [spokesman Scott] McClellan said, 'we'll be sending out notices to staff to promote mass transit options as well, letting them know about Metro stops and encouraging ride sharing, telling them where pickup and drop-off points are at the White House, or reminding them of that, and just scrutinizing staff travel even more, so that people can video-conference where they can, versus actually traveling, and things of that nature.'"

In his directive, Bush stated, "It is important that the Federal Government lead by example and further contribute to the relief effort by reducing its own fuel use during this difficult time."

On Oct. 3, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman launched "Easy Ways to Save Energy," a national campaign to highlight how American families, businesses, and the federal government can save energy in response to rising winter energy costs.