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Fuel for a rethink of driving habits

OPINION

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2024/03/21/an-opportunity-to-think-a...

THE abrupt shutdown of an Imperial Oil pipeline that carries fuel to Winnipeg is surely an inconvenience. Economically, it’s bad news because it could have a negative effect on trade and retail sales. The trucking industry has already been impacted.

However, it’s also an opportunity: a chance for Winnipeggers, including businesses, to explore ways to burn less carbon-emitting fuel.

Some fuel stations around Winnipeg have been limiting, or are sold out of, gasoline after the pipeline was shut down for repairs. Imperial Oil says the pipeline — which runs from Gretna, near the U.S. border to Winnipeg — will be out of commission for three months.

While industry officials and politicians have assured Manitobans there is no immediate threat of a fuel shortage (since gas is being delivered by truck and rail instead), there are visible signs of a supply disruption. Hastily scrawled “Out of gas” signs are popping up at some pump locations. Those will surely become more common, as will capping the amount of fuel motorists can buy.

The wrong and dangerous response to this inconvenience (which is all it is right now, it’s not a crisis) would be to hoard fuel in jerry cans in your garage or backyard.

For starters, there’s no need to do so. Fuel is available for sale and, by all accounts, will continue to be so for some time. It may just take people a little longer to get it.

Second, hoarding will only exacerbate the situation by increasing demand unnecessarily. Third, and most important, it’s dangerous. Storing fuel in jerry cans — or worse, containers not designed to hold fuel — increases the risk of combustion and fire.

A more appropriate and healthier response would be to use this situation to re-evaluate how much carbon-emitting fuel we use in our lives.

Granted, some of that consumption is not discretionary. For those who need their vehicles for work, or have no other way of commuting to places they must be, there’s not much wiggle room. For many, though, there are alternatives to driving, especially for able-bodied, single-occupant motorists.

Transit is the most obvious alternative. It’s not an option for everyone, especially in Winnipeg, which has a substandard public transportation system (the government should take this opportunity to re-evaluate how poorly it funds transit in Winnipeg). But it is available to many and, while perhaps inconvenient and less comfortable than getting into a remote-started vehicle, it is often a viable alternative to driving.

Walking is also not an option for everyone, but it goes without saying most people could walk a lot more to reach their destinations, myself included. Many of us are lazy. We like convenience and it’s far easier to get into a vehicle to commute a kilometre or two (sometimes less) than it is to walk.

Cycling. Again, not everyone has that choice, but with warmer weather just around the corner, biking to work, school, the store… wherever, is a viable alternative for many.

Fortunately, the city has made progress expanding its network of dedicated cycling routes. It is far easier to get around on a bike today in Winnipeg than it was 25 years ago. The city has a long way to go before it can claim to be cyclist-friendly, but it’s headed in the right direction. Perhaps the fuel-supply disruption could help accelerate that process.

Some people can work from home more often, carpool if possible (or more often) or even stay home instead of making a discretionary commute.

Dog owners don’t have to drive to unleashed parks every day. They can substitute some of those trips with walks in their own neighbourhoods.

The fuel-supply disruption could even be an opportunity to re-evaluate how people drive, including reducing or eliminating quick accelerations, speeding up to red lights and exceeding the speed limit, all of which is fuel-inefficient.

In other words, use this fuel-disruption situation to rethink how much fuel you burn. Is all of it necessary? Can some be reduced? Is it time to start thinking about buying an electric vehicle or a hybrid? Those who have one must feel pretty

good about their decision right now.

Given the climate-change crisis faced by humanity, we should be having these discussions on an ongoing basis. It should not take a minor fuel- supply disruption to get us out of our single-occupant vehicles.

Since the opportunity has presented itself, why not exploit it?

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.camailto:tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca