One of the easiest ways to save on auto expenses is to save on gasoline. You can save in many ways: drive less, hunt around for the best fuel prices, carpool, use public transportation, use a proven fuel additive, ride share, invest in a hybrid or EV, etc.

Image by Jeff Moser/BikeCarson.com

But one of the most beneficial and fun ways to save on gasoline, even skip gasoline if you so choose, is by pedal power! If you haven’t noticed, bike riding has made a big comeback in the last few years. Business men and women are riding bikes to work, families are spending quality time going for bike rides, people are riding their bikes for exercise, kids are riding their bikes to/from school and more.  There are bike groups, bike clubs, riding competitions, etc. So many great ways to have fun AND save gas.

Plus, take a look at some of the many resources available to help make riding your bike even better:

1 - Map My Ride: This is a great tool to help you plot a bike trip, find bike trails, track your progress, hook you up with a cycling group and more. They also have an iPhone app and a Blackberry app to use while on your ride.

Of course this works too:

Image by Spesh98

2 – Bicycle Safety Tips: Be familiar with these 10 collision types and learn how to avoid them. Even though pedal power has made a comeback, it doesn’t mean that motorists are always aware of cyclists when they are driving. Make them aware of you.

Here are a few more tips from the League of American Bicyclists: follow the rules of the road, stay visible to vehicles and others, be predictable while riding, anticipate potential situations and of course, wear a helmet.

3 – State by State Trails: If you are looking for trails, but don’t know where you go, check out American Trails. They are a good resource for trails in the U.S. and Canada. Not only that, they also provide information on how you can volunteer and be an advocate for keeping these trails alive for future generations.

One of the nice things about this resource is you can check not only for bike trails, but for hiking trails, walking trails, horseback riding trails, snow trails, etc.

Image by KWDesigns

4 – Trails.com: Another wonderful resource for finding trails. You simply put in your city, state and zip code, then it shows you a map of your area. Icons show you whether the trails shown are hiking trails, biking trails, etc.

5 – Social riding: Ridedog.com is a cool resource if you are into social media and you want to share where you are riding through a tweet or maybe send your Facebook friends information on your latest ride. If you must stay connected while tapping into your pedal power, this resource will help you do so.

Personally, I’d rather disconnect from my online life for a bit while enjoying the great outdoors, but that’s my preference.

6 – Commuter tools: This is a great site for existing, or even potential, bike commuters. There are tools including state by state information on bicycle laws and a gas-saving calculator. They even have a blog with informative posts such as this one: “Commuter Profile: 100 Pounds Ago’s Gene Butcher“.

Here are a few more tips for your bike commute:

Even if you don’t need or use any of the above resources, figure out how you can skip gasoline and make some good use of your pedal power. It’s better for you, your health and the environment. What are you waiting for…go ride a bike!

You may not be a car enthusiast. You may not even be 100% environmentally-conscious in your transportation choices. But neither of those points matter here, because once you take a look at these forms of chic eco transportation, you might decide it’s time for a change.

Now I’m not talking about public transportation…although I do like the concept of the straddling buses in China or high-speed rail coming to California. And walking or riding your bike are great ways to get around (and get some exercise). However right now, I’m talking about personal transportation, the kind you might find parked in your driveway someday.

Whether you already have an electric vehicle you wouldn’t trade for the world, a hybrid you couldn’t do without or your trusty but “not so environmentally-friendly” vehicle (that really needs an effective fuel additive to drive it anywhere) I still think you’ll find at least one of these vehicles will catch your eye.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell:

Renault DeZir (Concept Car):

Porsche 918 Spyder Electric Hybrid:

Brammo Empulse: (with additional photos for the Empulse here)

Terrafugia Transition:

Aptera 2e:

MIT’s CityCar (video also shows their GreenWheel electric bike attachment):

Of course if the electric car had caught on almost 100 years ago, we probably wouldn’t be dealing with the pollution and harmful emissions we are dealing with today. I mean take a look at this electric car from 1914…..

Just imagine what transportation today would have been like if electric vehicles, not gasoline-powered vehicles, had been what auto makers decided to build over the last hundred years.

Luckily for consumers, with auto makers continuing to move towards more environmentally-friendly options, that will pretty much guarantee an eco option for almost anyone.

What do you think the future of personal transportation holds? Are SEVs (Space Efficient Vehicles) going to be the wave of the future? What form of chic eco transportation would best suit your needs?

To see more green or eco transportation options, check out the winners of the Green Car Awards 2010.

Image by TomJByrne

Life isn’t always cut out the way we think it should be. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most out of it, right?! As Eleanor Roosevelt so aptly stated: “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” So, with that in mind…here are some simple biofriendly tips for life and living:

1) Don’t regret the past: Regardless of whether or not you’ve made mistakes in your life (which I’m sure we all have), don’t regret what you’ve done in your past. The things you did in the past are part of what made you who you are today.

Learn from your past and use it to help improve your future. You will find that today, tomorrow and many tomorrows will be better for it.

Image by vladeb

2) Get outside daily: Even if it is just for 15-20 minutes a day, take the time to get outside. Smell the fresh air, get some sun on your skin (Vitamin D, you know). Look at the beauty of nature around you. Who knows, it might even inspire you.

3) Eat locally grown foods or better yet, grow some of your own: You hear it said all the time. So what’s holding you back? It is probably easier than you think.

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Besides, it doesn’t matter why you want to do it…whether it’s because it is a biofriendly or environmentally-friendly thing to do or because you want to save money or maybe because you realize how great freshly picked food tastes. Fresh fruits, herbs, vegetables, etc. are great for you too. They can be a healthy snack or a smart addition to a well-balanced meal.

4) Cut down on your transportation emissions: Are you aware how much smog and harmful emissions can affect you? Plus, who wants to be breathing in harmful toxins? I know I don’t.

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An easy way to reduce your exposure to these harmful transportation emissions is by cutting down your driving time. Car-pool or ride-share whenever you can. Take public transportation where available. Use a proven fuel additive to further reduce your vehicles emissions and improve your fuel economy. Walk or ride your bike around town. Talk to your office about telecommuting. Have video conferences rather than requiring employees to travel long distances for a company conference or meeting.

5) Get up and get moving: As Sir Isaac Newton taught us as part of his first law of motion: “Every object persists in its state of rest…unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed on it.”

Well, the same applies to your body. You don’t want to be stuck in a continuous state of rest, therefore you need to get moving. Regular exercise such as walking, bike riding, hiking, swimming, playing sports, etc. is a great way to get moving and keep fit.

6) Buy less, save more: We can’t measure our success in life by how much we own. Some people may try to do that, but life isn’t about “stuff”. I mean seriously, how much stuff do you already own that you rarely use? When was the last time you cleaned out your closets or garage?

Image by E. Bartholomew

Measure your life by what you have accomplished or by how many lives you have touched. The kind words, the helping hand, the smile when someone was feeling down are often a lot more valuable and more memorable than you can imagine.

7) Live life: Every person’s life is worth living…every moment and every breathe. Don’t let one moment pass you by.

While you’ve probably heard that many times in your life, let me tell you there is nothing that makes that point clearer than watching your children grow up. Every moment is precious. Every experience worth having. Nothing is small or insignificant.

Image by Dy Zach Photoworks

When it all comes down to biofriendly living, recognize the life all around you. Be smart and respect that life, care for the people and things that have a positive impact on your life and create the kind of life you want. You are the only one who can.