With the rising price of gasoline, many have been resorting to such drastic measures as riding self-propelled bicycles to work or participating in the Sound’s mass transit system.

Short of these dreaded “last resort” options, there are a few other things the savings-savvy Sailor can do to squeeze the most out of their fuel and the automobiles they put it in.

It makes sense that to save money on gas, you’d want to pay less at the pumps right? With that thought in mind, the friendly folks at AAA have created a way to find the rock-bottom cheapest gas prices around no matter where you are. Just go to their Web site at http://www.csaa.com/home/{{PERIOD}} In the upper right hand corner click on the link titled “Gas watcher’s guide.”

That takes you to a page that’ll satiate even the thirstiest of oil consumers. You can look at charts of city gas price averages, calculate the fuel costs from point A to point B, chat with other thrifty gasoline addicts, and even find the current lowest gas prices in your neighborhood. Most importantly, it’s a free service anyone with an Internet connection and a steely resolve to save money can take advantage of.

Don’t forget to check the pressure in your tires. Under-inflated tires require more energy to roll beneath your car so it pays off to keep them full of the proper amount of air. The average recommended pressure is around 28 pounds per square inch. However, the correct tire pressure for each vehicle is usually located on a placard posted on the inside edge of the driver’s door.

People usually spend more time in their automobiles on the weekend, so it stands to reason that those greedy oil barons would raise the prices on Saturday and Sunday. Prices are usually lower during the week, typically Tuesday or Wednesday morning, so try to only fill up the tank then.

When you’re purchasing that weekday gas, don’t forget to screw the gas tank cap on tight. Keeping the cap tightly sealed will prevent gas, and consequently your money, from evaporating into thin air. 

Lightening the load in your vehicle can also help save gas as well as reduce stress on your car. Remove spare cinderblocks and weightlifting sets from your trunk to improve gas mileage. Remember, for every 100 pounds of extra weight in your car, fuel economy decreases by one to two percent.

Try and avoid sudden stops and starts with your now lighter automobile. Quick acceleration is necessary in some situations, but don’t abuse those ponies under the hood. Erratically accelerating and braking can waste up to 50 cents per gallon.

For those looking to circumvent the need for fossil fuels entirely, hang gliding technology has come a long way in the past 10 years. And the high/low pressure wind currents produced by the Puget Sound provide the perfect updrafts for a quick airborne ride into work.

Short of that, try practicing some of these gas saving tips and see how much you can save at the pump.