Even so, it’s impossible to remain unaware of the problems — meaning the sky-high gas prices — that have been tormenting the many drivers in the United States who aren’t wealthy. Since I can’t imagine what a pain in the wallet it must be to drive a car these days if you don’t have a lot of disposable income to waste, reflexive curiosity makes me stop and listen (or read) when the issue of conserving gas is raised.

While I was browsing the Sunday paper last weekend, I came across an interesting and relevant article in the Parade magazine insert titled “Smart Ways to Save on Gas.” The piece details a number of small, mostly painless and practical things that drivers can do to squeeze more mileage out of the gas in their car.

A commenter on the online version noted that some of the tips in the article are inspired by those shared at the Drive Smarter Challenge website. I list the bare bones after the jump; visit both websites for more details on how to implement the suggestions, as well as to get additional tips. An earlier post at The Boston Traveler, “Massachusetts Website Offers Help with Gas Prices,” has a few more words of advice that could also help save drivers money.

How to Increase Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency

• Avoid lugging around excess weight in your car
• Bike, carpool, walk, and/or use public transportation whenever possible
• Convert to a motorcycle or motor scooter
• Do more at one time by scheduling multiple errands on fewer trips
• Don’t let your car idle
• Drive more smoothly by avoiding unnecessarily high speeds and abrupt acceleration and braking
• Get rid of anything that causes drag, such as dents, luggage racks, and open windows during long trips
• Keep all four tires in good shape
• Make sure you’re using the correct motor oil for your car
• Stay in the right lane whenever possible

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Just about everyone who travels in the East has probably heard about the ridiculously low $1 fares some companies, such as Bolt Bus and Mega Bus here in Boston, charge for a one-way trip to a major destination, most often New York City. Compared to what that old standby Greyhound charges — currently $30–$57 one way — the new kids on the block might as well be letting people ride for free.

After I first starting traveling between New York City and Boston on a regular basis years ago, my original mode of transportation was the Delta Shuttle out of LaGuardia and Logan airports. When getting home from the airports became a major hassle, I moved on to Amtrak, which remains my favorite way to commute between the two cities, despite the company’s numerous ongoing problems.

Greyhound entered the picture when my trips between New York and Boston became more frequent, even as Amtrak simultaneously grew increasingly less reliable and more costly, destroying its status as a worthwhile expense. If the company ever manages to reclaim its value, however, I’ll return in an instant. But back when I first switched, Greyhound was the fastest yet least expensive game in town for travelers seeking a familiar brand name they could trust.

At the moment, those who are naturally thrifty, short on cash, willing to try something new, or born bus lovers are in luck if they need to get from Boston to New York City fairly quickly. The three companies below will not only do the job for a negligible amount of money, but each will provide a little something extra, too … at no additional charge, of course. Just keep in mind that when you opt for the convenience of purchasing a ticket via the Internet, all three charge a 50¢ online booking fee on top of the fare.

Bolt Bus

• One-Way Fare: $1–$20
• Route: South Station Bus Terminal, Gate 21 (Boston) to West 34th Street and 8th Avenue, across the street from Pennsylvania Station (New York)
• Website: www.boltbus.com
• Extra: Free WiFi and power outlets

Lucky Star Bus

• One-Way Fare: $1–$15
• Route: South Station Bus Terminal, Gate 13 (Boston) to 59 Chrystie Street in Chinatown (New York)
• Website: www.luckystarbus.com
• Extra: Rewards from a free frequent-rider program; a $25 2am bus departing Boston

Mega Bus

• One-Way Fare: $1–$14
• Route: South Station Bus Terminal, Gate 12 (Boston) to West 31st Street and 8th Avenue, outside Pennsylvania Station (New York)
• Website: www.megabus.com
• Extra: Free WiFi (but no power outlets)

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Governor Deval Patrick and his administration apparently feel constituents’ pain, and in response, they’ve established a new website specifically geared towards helping drivers in Massachusetts cope with soaring gas prices.

Titled Gas Tips, the website currently has six sections with links to timely information on:

• Searching local gas prices to find the best bargain
• Maximizing the amount of gas purchased and increasing the mileage of vehicles
• Alternatives to driving, such as using public transportation, biking, carpooling, and sharing rides through programs like MassRIDES
• Saving money on vacations by visiting destinations within the state

Whether you live in Massachusetts or just plan to drop by in the near future, the new Gas Tips website is a useful tool for those who want money-saving tips and alternatives on the road.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

I personally prefer sticking with mass public transportation rather than cabs for this very reason. It’s appalling what too many cab drivers do just to get a few extra dollars, such as the ever-popular scam of deliberately making unnecessary detours to prolong the ride or avoiding shortcuts on side streets in order to wait longer at the more numerous red lights on major streets.

The WHDH report focuses on a practice I knew nothing about since I don’t frequent the relevant section of town, East Boston. When taking passengers to Logan Airport in East Boston from Downtown Boston, cab drivers are allowed to charge a legitimate so-called Logan Fee of $2.75 in order to recoup half the expense of the large toll they must pay when they return downtown.

Some slick drivers have repurposed the Logan Fee, however, also charging it when customers request a drop-off anywhere in East Boston. As the WHDH report demonstrates, the more blatant offenders even do it when their cab has signage clearly stating that assessing the fee on a trip to any East Boston destination other than Logan Airport is *not* allowed.

Residents and visitors alike, make a note of this ridiculous practice if you prefer to travel by taxi. And if you should encounter a driver who charges you an illegal fee, request a printed metered receipt and then take a few moments to file a formal complaint with the Boston Police Hackney Carriage Unit (617-343-4475 during normal business hours and 617-536-8294 after hours).

Find additional information about Boston taxis at the City of Boston website, including telephone numbers for the six cab companies in the city and the fare structure they must all follow.

A video of Fare Play, the WHDH report on the Logan Fee, is below. If you require closed captions, you can enable that feature on the video player by clicking the CC symbol in the top right-hand corner.

Post from: The Boston Traveler