June 22, 2008 "Smart transit challenge" aims to save energy Play video

(Mark Sudol, NECN: Somerville, MA) - With gas prices higher than they've ever been, more and more people are turning to different forms of transportation.

The importance of that message was hammered home at an event in Somerville Sunday.

"In the USA we produce more greenhouse gases than any other nation on the planet and we have to change that."

Donald Kelley who produced the TV show "Energy Smackdown" for a local cable station in Medford-- is now taking his show on the road.

"There are ways that people can travel without changing their lives all that much."

Sunday three Boston suburbs--- Medford, Arlington, and Cambridge--- competed in the first "smart transit challenge". The goal is for each team to get the most distance traveled using as little energy as possible-- kind of like the amazing race meets energy efficiency. The teams start and end in Somerville's Davis Square and visit 5 checkpoints in the Boston area in any order they choose. The hope is to get people who normally drive cars to think about other modes of transportation to beat the high gas prices--- like riding a bike or even walking.

"Energysmackdown.com says the average American spends between 4 and 8 thousand dollars a year on their car, so they encourage folks to take public transportation which can cost about two thousand a year."

Robin chase is also trying to change driving habits---- she heads up go-loco--- a local online ride sharing alternative.

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Believe it or not---robin says 86 percent of people drive alone in their car. Car-pooling with one person cuts that number in half.

Sunday's three teams could use any strategy they wanted to--- just keep the carbon levels to a minimum.