The $348 fuel bill for my wife’s car and my truck in August floored me. For that much money I could buy a new-fangled tablet, get a month’s worth of groceries, pay my power bill for five months and much more. But what could I do? It’s 10 miles to work so walking’s not a real option. Biking isn’t an option due to a bad back. Buying a new hybrid or electric car didn’t make sense either. Factoring the price of the car, it’d take more than eight years of fuel savings to see a positive return. I know, take the bus.

But the bus isn’t cool. Only homeless people, high school students and tourists ride the bus. Right? Wrong.

People who like to slash their fuel bill and enjoy letting someone else drive ride the bus. In one month my fuel bill dropped $100 and for the first time in years I got to blissfully ride down West Beach Road and look at the mountains. For the first time in years I didn’t come down the West Beach Road to Libbey Road hill and get hyper about hitting a deer. Another benefit was listening to the high school kids. When I eavesdrop on their conversations it takes me back to a much simpler time when girls were the main concern and teachers were viewed much like comic book characters — larger than life and given surreal personalities.

Tired of your stratospheric fuel bill? Want to enjoy a more relaxed drive? Try an experiment like I did. Ride the bus to work for one half of a month. You’ll be amazed how much you’ll save and the fun you’ll have.

Ron Nelson

Oak Harbor