Originally Posted by
dcbiker
About rural areas, I would like to do mostly biking in the area, but the town only has about 200 people, and the stores are 6 miles away. Since she runs a B&B at the house, which would be our second home, it would take a lot of hauling of stuff. But you did give me a good idea--you can really reduce the amount of car trips if you plan carefully.
One way we reduced fuel usage was to tear a page out of the early 20th century household
managment methods.
We make a once a month "supply" run and stock up on all non-perisables garden & can much of
our own produce and buy everything in bulk that we can. This is how the farmers/ranchers of
the old days kept cost low and it still works today.
If you don't have even a small freezer ...get one. If you don't have "pantry shelving" get some.
You will be amazed at how much time and cost you will save in short order. Oh yes, outlaw the
short hop bread/milk runs or you will save nothing. STOCK UP!!
Make it a hard and fast rule that the car doesn''t move unless the trip will pay for itself in jobs
done. AND MEAN IT!!!! (6 miles on a decent bike ain't as far as you think)