If you are worried about the skyrocketing price of gas and oil then you might want to reconsider your dependency on these items. Of course, we all need to heat our homes, get to work, cook our food, and do many other things that require the use of energy, however, there are plenty of ways to cut down and minimize their use. With oil prices zooming past $68 per barrel on Friday, (1) and the price of gas at its highest level in 12 weeks (2), it won’t take long for us to feel the pinch of our over usage of this limited resource. {more}

“Visitors [to Monterey, California] in the summer months can also take advantage of the free WAVE (Waterfront Area Visitor Express) buses which run continuously from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on a circular route between downtown Monterey and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, stopping at various attractions in between.” For more information, visit: http://meet.montereyinfo.org/page/7644/ {more}

The LA Metro is offering FREE fares on its Metro rails on New Year's Day. For more information, visit their web site {more}

I just came across a great site that not only provides a lot of useful information, including discounts and activity ideas, for anyone visiting Santa Barbara, but also promotes getting around that beautiful city without a car! Santa Barbara Car Free provides suggestions and itineraries for those looking for a car-free way to visit the city. {more}

While searching the web for information regarding local transportation systems, I came across this press release about how Riverside, California is offering free bus rides to its residents on New Year's Eve. Well, instead of trying to explain it to you, let me just post their press release. There is a link to the actual release at the end of this entry as well. Enjoy! {more}

The Emery Go Round is a free shuttle to Emeryville California from MacArthur BART and Emeryville Amtrak train stations. Buses run every day, with a frequency of 10-12 minutes during weekday commute hours. {more}

I am sure that I am not the only one that has been looking at alternative forms of transportation since gas prices have gotten so high. Well, during my search for alternatives, I found that many cities have free buses. That’s Right!!! FREE TRANSPORATION!!! Can you believe this? In a capitalist country, someone is actually giving something away for free! I would never have thought this. Well, it’s true. Pasadena, for example, the city where I reside most of the year, has an excellent free bus system. Monrovia, another nearby city, has a free trolley, as does Laguna Beach, a famous art-community somewhat nearby. I will try to add free transportation links as I find them, however, If you know or hear of any, please send them to me and I will be happy to add them. Enjoy! {more}

“The Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System (ARTS) is a transit service designed to provide convenient transportation between many of the City’s residential neighborhoods and retail, business and entertainment centers.” Information about the Pasadena Arts Bus System can be found on Pasadena’s Transit Operations & Planning page here. This is a free system that offers seven routes “making it easy and convenient for residents and visitors to get around without a car.” (City of Pasadena.net; Department of Transportation) {more}

Monrovia has a trolley that runs every 12 minutes through its old town area that is free on weekdays from 11am to 2:30pm. Please note: This is not an actual picture of Monrovia's Trolley. Click here for its routes {more}

Laguna Beach has its “Summer Shuttle Service,” which is “a FREE four line service designed to accommodate locals and visitors who primarily come to Laguna Beach for the Pageant of the Masters, local art festivals and other day tripping activities during the ten week summer season. Beginning in late June through the end of August, shuttle routes operate seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.” Click here for more information about Laguna Beach’s Summer Shuttle Service. Please note: This is not an actual picture of Laguna Beach's Summer Shuttle. {more}

OK drivers, this is no longer an issue about courtesy or who is morally right or wrong. The fact is, when slow drivers block the left lane, they increase the likelihood of road rage in their fellows drivers and faster drivers are forced to make dangerous evasive maneuvers to “get around,” which increases the likelihood of an accident, which, as you know can be fatal at those speeds. Unfortunately, not everyone is listening to classical or Hawaiian music during their drives to calm their nerves, so it is important that you drive on the right and pass on the left in order to avoid the above scenario. There are currently seven states that allow the use of the left hand lane ONLY for passing or... {more}