Rush hour is always a hassle for any driver but more so when you have a manual transmission. The simple act of pushing the clutch in and out begins to fatigue the leg and just relaxing becomes impossible. Knowing how to cruise a manual transmission during rush hour means better mileage, less wear on your car and a more relaxing drive overall.
Practice leaving the car in gear in stop and go traffic. Riding the bumper of the car in front of you won't get you home faster and is dangerous. Let the car lead you by several car lengths and don't worry about cars slipping in front of you. Everyone still gets where they are going at the same time and it's safer.
Match speed with traffic, but engine brake when you begin to see brake lights ahead. Drop gears with the clutch as needed and finally crawl in first gear if required. Engine braking the car saves gas by turning off the fuel pump, unlike coasting. It also saves wear and tear on the brakes and clutch without doing any harm to the engine itself.
Leave enough distance between you and the car ahead that normal stopping and starting of the line doesn't bring you to a complete halt. While there are times you must stop, they will be less frequent, which also saves gas.
Learn to look ahead in traffic to spot problem areas coming up and adjust your crawl to meet the need. Living at the back of bumper through a commute is frustrating but when you know how to keep the wheels rolling you feel like you're getting somewhere.
