I admit that over a year ago my wife and I went "cold turkey."

Since then we have had two forms of transportation most folks have never seriously considered. We use public buses and bicycles. I presently have a pass for unlimited use this month. The cost? $28.25 for my senior month-long pass.

The way I figure today's Regular-Unleaded, that gets you (and yours?) about seven gallons of gas -- but that doesn't include all those other expenses.

Don't we ever want a car? Yes, and you know, we save enough using the bus and taking an occasional bike ride, that when we do want a car we rent one and pocket all the rest of our savings.

There are some other benefits we have from riding the bus: it may not take us right to the doorstep of the friends, activities or businesses we frequent, but on those occasions we actually walk a little way. That's called "exercise." Furthermore, contrary to common fears, we meet a great cross section of Utahns and foreigners on our bus rides, and leave the driving to our professional "chauffeurs."

•Demas Jasper,

Lindon