Is the price of gasoline tempting you to drive less? How long could you live without driving your car?
14 Comments
Evan said:
This is dumb...
Ryan said:
About 2 years ago I lived in Redmond, WA while working at Safeway in Auburn, WA. In order to conserve my gas, I purchased a bike. I wasn't willing to ride the entire 30 miles, so I would drive half-way to Auburn, stopping at a train station in Tukwilla. From there I would ride along the inter-urban trail into Auburn.
This added about an hour and a half to my trip, but I enjoyed doing it for a while. The only reason I stopped at the time is that I got a flat tire and never had it fixed.
Now I live in Bonney Lake and I have been thinking about doing the bike thing again. My only concern is that I don't know of a safe trail to ride on my way to Auburn. The rising cost of gas will definately force a decision from me soon however.
vanessa said:
last year I sold my car partly because of gas prices. I got a bus pass and a flexcar membership and a good rain coat. I have saved a bunch of money, I'm more relaxed and I am getting plenty of exercise. I would recommend that anyone living in the city ( without small kids,maybe) try giving up the car dependance. there are so many stress free and cost effective options out there now it is worth it to try. good luck!
Brook said:
It'd be really nice to be able to give up the car, but we don't all live in areas with adequate transit service. Until there is a significant investment in public transportation, the roads will remain clogged - and so will our air. I drive for all the medical appointments for six people (kids and adults) from Ferndale to the VA hospital in Seattle. There have been years I've put on 100k miles in a single year withOUT extraneous trips because transit has not been a viable option. I'd dearly love to let someone else do the driving. I'm looking forward to the expansion of transit service so that it becomes a viable option outside of the Seattle/Everett area.
L. said:
That is why I have a motorcycle
sue said:
Encouraging telecommuting is the true resolution to the woes of clogged roadways, dependence on oil, etc.
In addition, companies would realize a huge savings in their "footprint" expense (office space) - which is the largest expense a company has.
Jeremy Vrbas said:
I never been able to drive. Therefore, I never owned a car. at the rate that gas prices are, I am glad I don't. For those of you who do have to pay to fill up your gas tank. Ah ha because I don't have to. places that I need to go is only blocks away. The only thing I do have to say though is that something needs to be done about the hourindous gas prices. I think the price of gas is most of the reason why the economy is so weak right now
Rick H said:
We won't have viable alternatives to driving cars until the gas prices go much higher!!
SO let the gas price rise!!!, faster the better.
We have plenty of alternative tech and money to develop several alternative solutions, but as long as major corporations make billions of dollars a year in profit, and the people are willing to contribute to the corps profit, it won't change.
The big corps don't want to lose their profits, so they squelch all development and laws that will harm them. Their bottom line wins...until their greed gets so high, people can't afford to drive any more.
Lynn said:
Give up a car? Hmmmm which one?
Lizzie said:
About two years ago, my car gave up the ghost. Was told it would take $6,000 to get it back on the road. Didn't have $6,000 and still don't have $6,000. I pretty much walk everywhere now and also walk 5 miles every morning just for the exercise (lost 75 pounds doing it too!) and have to say I don't miss my car. I also bike for small amounts of groceries, but since we have 6 kids, I do have to rely on getting a ride for large grocery shopping trips and to the doctors who are about 35 miles away and no bus that goes from here to anywhere near there. It is nice not to have to worry about car insurance and all the other expenses involved in car ownership....but we've had to nix our once-a-year camping trip to the forest and we sure do miss that. Ah well....tent in the back yard, pass the marshmallows, and make do. Since we've already pretty much learned to work our life around the lack of the car, we're all ready used to it. When I see the price of gas, I think it would've made us live like we are doing already. But for those who haven't cut back in this yet, it will be very hard at first. You have my sympathy. But take heart....things do get better and you will get used to cutting back.
Lisa said:
I would be willing to take the bus to and from work, but the transit system where I live is terrible. I also, work an evening shift and do not get off until 11pm. I live in Sammamish. I will not stand outside at a bus stop on the 520 at night. If The transit system was better, I would.
Angela B (Bothell) said:
I have a friend in the Bay Area in California who began, some months ago, to crow about how much better his life was without a car. Shortly after that, he began saying how EVERYONE should do without a car, and stop burning liquified dinosaur bones. Well. He has BART and local groceries just a block or two from his apartment, and busses everywhere, doesn't he? I asked him which of my 4 children I should leave at home while I commute to the grocery store on my bicycle, and how exactly I should take them to therapy or doctor appointments. Funny. He backed down.
I know a woman - an immigrant from the UK - who was telling me how she WANTED to see the price of gas go to $5/gallon, because it would FORCE people to buy hybrids and stop driving other cars. She seemed very willing to demand I get rid of a perfectly serviceable minivan (there are, or at any rate were, no hybrid minivans at the time this conversation took place) which is moreover *paid* for, and take on $30-50K worth of debt, in order to drive this allegedly more fuel-efficient vehicle which does not exist anyway....in order to save money and the environment. I didn't notice her offering to buy me such a car, of course. To say I was not convinced would not quite convey the underwhelming impact of her argument.
The price of gas hurts. It's driving up the price of food, and that hurts too. But I can hardly sell my house to move somewhere 'closer in' in order to be in walking distance to a grocery store, and what *about* appointments that must be kept?
I cannot realistically live without my vehicle. Not without taking my entire life, turning it upside down, and shaking it viciously and without a mind for the results. All I can do is pinch pennies and hang on.
Tina said:
This is all just silly. Everyone wants everyone else to give up their cars just because they have.
What about disabled people who cannot walk far or stand for long at bus stops? Most can't afford a cab to drive them around. Let people make up their own minds. People have different reasons for having cars and I think we as americans should respect those reasons and choices.
Drew said:
"What about disabled people who cannot walk far or stand for long at bus stops?"
And you're letting these people drive?! It's like the old guy yesterday who got in the freeway, passed me on the right (I was going the speed limit), got in the center lane, then slowed down to 5 under the speed limit. I was in a semi truck, and it's illegal to use the left lane through town, so I had a choice...follow him, or pass on the right. I chose to slow down and follow.
We need to start designing our cities under the assumption that cheap fuel will not always be available.
"I asked him which of my 4 children I should leave at home while I commute to the grocery store on my bicycle, and how exactly I should take them to therapy or doctor appointments"
How old are your children? You could have them ride their bikes with you, or, if too young, then put them in the carrier on the back, or in a bike trailer. How far do you have to go to therapy or the doctor? Same answer...start them riding now, and they'll learn that they don't have to have a car to survive when they're older.
"But I can hardly sell my house to move somewhere 'closer in' in order to be in walking distance to a grocery store, and what *about* appointments that must be kept?"
Try to find grocery delivery services, or perhaps carpool with a friend. If you have to keep an appointment, and have to ride a bike, then just leave more time to get there...seems simple. It won't be at first, of course, but after awhile, it would become second nature.
"I cannot realistically live without my vehicle. Not without taking my entire life, turning it upside down, and shaking it viciously and without a mind for the results."
This is the attitude of most of us who grew up getting rides in cars from our parents, then driving our own cars. It's very, very difficult for many to see another way, but there is one. This isn't true for everyone, however. If you live in a rural area, or a suburb 15 miles from the nearest services, it might be very hard to live without a car...but not necessarily impossible. It's been done, but how far are people willing to go? The higher fuel prices go, the more people will take the steps necessary to eliminate their cars, and more alternatives will be viable. Right now, fuel only amounts to maybe 8-15% of the total cost of a typical car.
This is dumb...
About 2 years ago I lived in Redmond, WA while working at Safeway in Auburn, WA. In order to conserve my gas, I purchased a bike. I wasn't willing to ride the entire 30 miles, so I would drive half-way to Auburn, stopping at a train station in Tukwilla. From there I would ride along the inter-urban trail into Auburn.
This added about an hour and a half to my trip, but I enjoyed doing it for a while. The only reason I stopped at the time is that I got a flat tire and never had it fixed.
Now I live in Bonney Lake and I have been thinking about doing the bike thing again. My only concern is that I don't know of a safe trail to ride on my way to Auburn. The rising cost of gas will definately force a decision from me soon however.
last year I sold my car partly because of gas prices. I got a bus pass and a flexcar membership and a good rain coat. I have saved a bunch of money, I'm more relaxed and I am getting plenty of exercise. I would recommend that anyone living in the city ( without small kids,maybe) try giving up the car dependance. there are so many stress free and cost effective options out there now it is worth it to try. good luck!
It'd be really nice to be able to give up the car, but we don't all live in areas with adequate transit service. Until there is a significant investment in public transportation, the roads will remain clogged - and so will our air. I drive for all the medical appointments for six people (kids and adults) from Ferndale to the VA hospital in Seattle. There have been years I've put on 100k miles in a single year withOUT extraneous trips because transit has not been a viable option. I'd dearly love to let someone else do the driving. I'm looking forward to the expansion of transit service so that it becomes a viable option outside of the Seattle/Everett area.
That is why I have a motorcycle
Encouraging telecommuting is the true resolution to the woes of clogged roadways, dependence on oil, etc.
In addition, companies would realize a huge savings in their "footprint" expense (office space) - which is the largest expense a company has.
I never been able to drive. Therefore, I never owned a car. at the rate that gas prices are, I am glad I don't. For those of you who do have to pay to fill up your gas tank. Ah ha because I don't have to. places that I need to go is only blocks away. The only thing I do have to say though is that something needs to be done about the hourindous gas prices. I think the price of gas is most of the reason why the economy is so weak right now
We won't have viable alternatives to driving cars until the gas prices go much higher!!
SO let the gas price rise!!!, faster the better.
We have plenty of alternative tech and money to develop several alternative solutions, but as long as major corporations make billions of dollars a year in profit, and the people are willing to contribute to the corps profit, it won't change.
The big corps don't want to lose their profits, so they squelch all development and laws that will harm them. Their bottom line wins...until their greed gets so high, people can't afford to drive any more.
Give up a car? Hmmmm which one?
About two years ago, my car gave up the ghost. Was told it would take $6,000 to get it back on the road. Didn't have $6,000 and still don't have $6,000. I pretty much walk everywhere now and also walk 5 miles every morning just for the exercise (lost 75 pounds doing it too!) and have to say I don't miss my car. I also bike for small amounts of groceries, but since we have 6 kids, I do have to rely on getting a ride for large grocery shopping trips and to the doctors who are about 35 miles away and no bus that goes from here to anywhere near there. It is nice not to have to worry about car insurance and all the other expenses involved in car ownership....but we've had to nix our once-a-year camping trip to the forest and we sure do miss that. Ah well....tent in the back yard, pass the marshmallows, and make do. Since we've already pretty much learned to work our life around the lack of the car, we're all ready used to it. When I see the price of gas, I think it would've made us live like we are doing already. But for those who haven't cut back in this yet, it will be very hard at first. You have my sympathy. But take heart....things do get better and you will get used to cutting back.
I would be willing to take the bus to and from work, but the transit system where I live is terrible. I also, work an evening shift and do not get off until 11pm. I live in Sammamish. I will not stand outside at a bus stop on the 520 at night. If The transit system was better, I would.
I have a friend in the Bay Area in California who began, some months ago, to crow about how much better his life was without a car. Shortly after that, he began saying how EVERYONE should do without a car, and stop burning liquified dinosaur bones. Well. He has BART and local groceries just a block or two from his apartment, and busses everywhere, doesn't he? I asked him which of my 4 children I should leave at home while I commute to the grocery store on my bicycle, and how exactly I should take them to therapy or doctor appointments. Funny. He backed down.
I know a woman - an immigrant from the UK - who was telling me how she WANTED to see the price of gas go to $5/gallon, because it would FORCE people to buy hybrids and stop driving other cars. She seemed very willing to demand I get rid of a perfectly serviceable minivan (there are, or at any rate were, no hybrid minivans at the time this conversation took place) which is moreover *paid* for, and take on $30-50K worth of debt, in order to drive this allegedly more fuel-efficient vehicle which does not exist anyway....in order to save money and the environment. I didn't notice her offering to buy me such a car, of course. To say I was not convinced would not quite convey the underwhelming impact of her argument.
The price of gas hurts. It's driving up the price of food, and that hurts too. But I can hardly sell my house to move somewhere 'closer in' in order to be in walking distance to a grocery store, and what *about* appointments that must be kept?
I cannot realistically live without my vehicle. Not without taking my entire life, turning it upside down, and shaking it viciously and without a mind for the results. All I can do is pinch pennies and hang on.
This is all just silly. Everyone wants everyone else to give up their cars just because they have.
What about disabled people who cannot walk far or stand for long at bus stops? Most can't afford a cab to drive them around. Let people make up their own minds. People have different reasons for having cars and I think we as americans should respect those reasons and choices.
"What about disabled people who cannot walk far or stand for long at bus stops?"
And you're letting these people drive?! It's like the old guy yesterday who got in the freeway, passed me on the right (I was going the speed limit), got in the center lane, then slowed down to 5 under the speed limit. I was in a semi truck, and it's illegal to use the left lane through town, so I had a choice...follow him, or pass on the right. I chose to slow down and follow.
We need to start designing our cities under the assumption that cheap fuel will not always be available.
"I asked him which of my 4 children I should leave at home while I commute to the grocery store on my bicycle, and how exactly I should take them to therapy or doctor appointments"
How old are your children? You could have them ride their bikes with you, or, if too young, then put them in the carrier on the back, or in a bike trailer. How far do you have to go to therapy or the doctor? Same answer...start them riding now, and they'll learn that they don't have to have a car to survive when they're older.
"But I can hardly sell my house to move somewhere 'closer in' in order to be in walking distance to a grocery store, and what *about* appointments that must be kept?"
Try to find grocery delivery services, or perhaps carpool with a friend. If you have to keep an appointment, and have to ride a bike, then just leave more time to get there...seems simple. It won't be at first, of course, but after awhile, it would become second nature.
"I cannot realistically live without my vehicle. Not without taking my entire life, turning it upside down, and shaking it viciously and without a mind for the results."
This is the attitude of most of us who grew up getting rides in cars from our parents, then driving our own cars. It's very, very difficult for many to see another way, but there is one. This isn't true for everyone, however. If you live in a rural area, or a suburb 15 miles from the nearest services, it might be very hard to live without a car...but not necessarily impossible. It's been done, but how far are people willing to go? The higher fuel prices go, the more people will take the steps necessary to eliminate their cars, and more alternatives will be viable. Right now, fuel only amounts to maybe 8-15% of the total cost of a typical car.