Carytown event urges improving gas mileage
November 2, 2007
Richmond Times Dispatch
By Greg Edwards

Environmental activists held an old-car show yesterday across from the Byrd Theatre in Carytown to draw attention to a bill in Congress to raise U.S. fuel-economy standards.

The show was intended to demonstrate that federal mileage requirements for the U.S. vehicles are much the same today as they were in the 1970s.

The event was timely as the average price of gasoline in the Richmond area has jumped in 2and 3-cent increments this week. A gallon of regular sells for $2.75 per gallon, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic, compared with $2.06 per gallon the same time last year.

"When Americans see oil prices reach such record highs, it's not only fair but necessary for them to ask Congress to step up and give them better standards," said Jay Johnson, the chairwoman of the Virginia Organizing Project.

Congress is considering an energy bill that includes a provision that would raise the average fuel economy requirement for the U.S. auto fleet to 35 miles per gallon. There's no reason Americans cannot have improved gas mileage, said Glen Besa of the Sierra Club. He joined other speakers in urging the public to contact their representatives in Congress and urge them to support the improved standards.

The Senate version of the energy bill contains the provision to improve gas mileage and the House version does not. A conference committee will resolve those differences with final action expected by Christmas, said Ruth Morrison, a field organizer for the National Environmental Trust.

Turner Smith brought his 1964 Citroen Deux Chevaux, to the event. The tiny car, which gets roughly 50 miles per gallon, was designed as an economical and rugged form of transportation for the French farmer, the story goes.

"I've always been concerned about mileage," said Smith who owned a Dodge Dart in 1973 and a diesel Volkswagen Rabbit, which got 50 miles per gallon, in 1979.