Posted September 8, 200519 yr Price of fuel puts brakes on driving Ohio roads less traveled on holiday By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Did gas pains cramp Labor Day weekend travel in Ohio? Preliminary traffic counts from the Ohio Turnpike Commission and the state Department of Transportation say yes. From Friday through Monday, traffic on the Ohio Turnpike declined by 47,275 vehicles, or 7.35 percent, compared with the 2004 holiday weekend. And at seven traffic counting stations maintained by ODOT on its highways, volume was down an average 8.1 percent during the four-day period. The Ohio Highway Patrol, meanwhile, investigated 14 percent fewer collisions during the weekend - a decline to 567 this year from 660 during the Labor Day 2004 weekend. ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050908/NEWS11/509080439
September 9, 200519 yr I can tell you one thing, when i was driving back and forth to Florda and Colorado. Not many people was speeding.
October 3, 200519 yr Since Ford has a big industrial presence in Ohio, this is a significant story. . October 3, 2005 Gas prices put brakes on auto sales Ford sees sharp drop in sales, as pickup, SUV demand plunges; Chrysler sales edge up from year ago: 1:18 PM EDT NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Record high gas prices took a big toll at Ford Motor Co. last month as sales of its most profitable pickup trucks and sport/utility vehicles tumbled. Ford, the nation's No. 2 automaker, said September sales overall sank 19 percent to 228,157 vehicles. Sales of light trucks, including SUVs, pickups and vans, fell even more sharply, sinking 27 percent to 155,167, as record-high gas prices and strong sales earlier in the summer both apparently dented sales last month. ... More at: http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/03/news/economy/autosales/index.htm?cnn=yes
October 3, 200519 yr I wonder if the automakers, by keeping an eye on the oil industry, expected gas prices to go up, and therefore sold all of the inventory of SUV's at bargain prices while gas prices were still low. Even before Katrina analysts were calling for higher gas prices. This is good news or bad news, depending on your point of view. Fewer cars on the road might mean a better quality of life; however, if you are the guy who loses his job manufacturing SUV's, then you are in for a big lifestyle change.
October 3, 200519 yr The Grip of Gas Why you'll pay through the nose to keep driving. By Austan Goolsbee Posted Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at 9:54 AM PT President Bush called on Americans to drive less yesterday in response to the "disruption" caused by the Gulf of Mexico hurricanes. Will they? High fuel prices make the question a natural one. Conservation advocates, along with policy-makers and the press, have been grasping for evidence that the answer is yes. Here's what they've collected so far: Toyota's announcement that Hurricane Katrina boosted demand for hybrids, the D.C. Metro's strong ridership last month, and a report of large SUVs sitting unsold on a car lot in Texas. Unfortunately, the economics suggests a pretty clear answer to what this adds up to: not much. In repeated studies of consumer purchases over the years in the developed world, drivers in the United States consistently rank as the least sensitive to changes in gas prices. Even when gas gets expensive, we just keep on truckin'. The latest estimates, based on a comprehensive study released in 2002, predict that if prices rose from $3 per gallon to $4 per gallon and stayed there for a year (far greater and longer than the impact of Katrina), purchases of gasoline in the United States would fall only about 5 percent. Why don't we ratchet down more when fuel prices go up? The rule of thumb in economics is that people react to price increases only when they can turn to substitutes. Raise the price of Ford trucks and sales go way down because you can buy your truck from Chrysler or GM or Toyota instead. Raise the price of gasoline and what are the alternatives? As a New York Times article pointed out on Sunday, people can't change the type of fuel they put in their cars, and they can't stop going to work. They might take one less driving vacation or check their tire pressure more often when they fill up. But that hardly makes a dent in the total numbers. ... More at: http://www.slate.com/id/2126981/
October 4, 200519 yr If they stopped making SUV's today, it would be 15 years before they would be a rare site. I expect they'll always continue to be made and probably pick back up once we switch to ethanol. Do you have any idea how much farmland we'll need to convert from petrol to ethanol? Let's put it this way, it sounds like you'd rather drive than eat! KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 4, 200519 yr ^with all the (petroleum-based) fertilizers that go into farming, ethanol is not really that efficient.
October 11, 200519 yr If they stopped making SUV's today, it would be 15 years before they would be a rare site. I expect they'll always continue to be made and probably pick back up once we switch to ethanol. Do you have any idea how much farmland we'll need to convert from petrol to ethanol? Let's put it this way, it sounds like you'd rather drive than eat! KJP My prediction is the use of farmland for another purpose will make farmland valuable (to farm) again and thus development will be slower. Sure the price of corn and soybeans will go up, but they haven't really risen at all since the 1930's. The price per bushel is only a dime or so higher. Thats a shame.
April 30, 200619 yr Recognizing that we have a "Peak Oil" thread, I'm of the opinion that we need to start a thread aimed a little more narrowly at the impacts of higher fuel prices. This issue is really starting to show up in ways that will force us to adjust in more ways than we care to admit. Schools feel fuel-price pinch New textbooks, buses lose out to $5.3 million in unexpected costs Sunday, April 30, 2006 Bill Bush THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH High energy prices and the need for more bus routes led to about $5.3 million in unbudgeted expenses for Columbus Public Schools this year. As a result, the district didn’t buy updated textbooks or replace some buses, officials said. The cost of diesel and gasoline that power district buses and other vehicles is expected to come in $1.8 million over budget by the time the fiscal year ends June 30. That’s 56 percent more than the $3.2 million that the district budgeted, according to acting Budget Director Hugh Garside. ... More at: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/04/30/20060430-E1-00.html
April 30, 200619 yr What strikes me here is that people are going to be moving to alternatives forms of transportation: mass transit, bikes, on-foot.... at precisely a moment in time when the systems for these alternatives are under-funded and under-developed. Then again, a little crisis might get some of our leaders off the dime, so to speak. High gas prices prompt some to change habits Public transit, walking gain converts Sunday, April 30, 2006 Eileen Alt Powell ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — As the price of gasoline continues to soar, Americans are finding ways to lower their fuel costs. Some are joining car pools or walking to work; others are adopting more frugal driving habits. A few are even swapping their SUVs for more fuel-efficient cars. With the price of gasoline exceeding $3 a gallon in some places, "Families already are starting to feel the pinch," said Kateri Callahan, president of the Washington-based nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy. And prices are likely to go higher during the traditionally heavy summer driving season, she warned. Her advice: If you’re in the market for a new car, buy the most fuel-efficient model you can afford. If you’re stuck with what’s in the driveway, make sure that you drive in a manner that will get you the best fuel efficiency. ... More at: http://dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/04/30/20060430-D3-00.html
April 30, 200619 yr This is an interesting way to chronicle the changes that will be wrought by higher oil prices. On a related note, none of our leaders, be they Republican or Democrat are proposing do anything other than pander to us by calling for gas tax holidays and $100 rebates that do nothing to address the situation by getting us out of our cars. This is insulting. The media has been equally blind as well and I think it's high time for those of us who think this myopia is wrong to start saying something about it. I have started to write my elected officials and I hope you do the same. I also hope you will forward this to others. Nothing will happen as long as we remain silent. We need to call our officials on this and hold their feet to the fire. Canned answers and half-hearted responses won't cut it and we should say so! Here is the text of an email I sent U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi: Dear Rep. Tiberi: By now I am sure you have been hearing from a lot of people concerning high gas prices and I guess it's my turn. My question is this: What are you doing to provide transportation alternatives to the auto? I keep hearing about things like ethanol but a part of the picture has to be other forms of transportation. We should not have to drive everywhere. It seems Congress, the Bush Administration and even the media have all missed this. All indications are that high energy costs will be the norm, requiring a comprehensive plan that uses every tool available to address the problem. Yet all we hear are "solutions" that do nothing to get us out of our cars. We need more and better rail passenger service, light rail, trolleys, bike and pedestrian facilities, not such silliness as gas tax holidays or $100 rebates. These don't even qualify as band-aid solutions. I hope you will be a leader on this. Let's start raising this issue!!!
May 1, 200619 yr Welcome aboard BuckeyeB! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 1, 200619 yr Phony War on Gas Attacks on 'price gouging' make good politics, but they don't help consumers much. Thursday, April 27, 2006; Page A26 NO DOUBT IT makes everyone feel better when the president states his concern for Americans, who are now paying more than $3 a gallon for gasoline. Unfortunately, the measures President Bush chose to announce this week to combat high prices are either meaningless or possibly dangerous in the long run, even if they do offer a bit of temporary relief. For example, just talking publicly about "price gouging" can spook gasoline providers into slightly lowering prices. And maybe it's useful to inspire state officials to start looking harder for crooks, given that price gouging is defined at the state level, not by the federal government. But in the long term, such talk encourages the public to believe that evil price gougers are responsible for higher pump prices, when the real culprits are global economic growth, increased demand and Americans' own large cars. The president's other tactics seem no less dubious. Stopping the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve won't increase supply by much, and it sets a bad precedent: The reserve, after all, is meant for national emergencies, which this is not. Temporarily waiving fuel blend or environmental requirements could help with spot shortages in a few places but won't have much effect on the long-term price. Calling for the construction of more refineries is unnecessary. Although the president is right to state that "there hasn't been a new refinery built in 30 years," it is also true that the oil companies have expanded refineries every year since 1996 and are expected to continue doing so through 2025, according to Energy Department statistics. The president has, of course, had plenty of opportunities over the past five years to shape a more rational energy policy, one that would have provided incentives to move away from oil and toward other energy sources. He could have lobbied harder to remove the oil industry tax benefits from the energy bill he signed. He could have insisted that Congress add more tax breaks for hybrid cars, as he now says he wishes it had done. He could lift the tariffs on Brazilian ethanol, which would help address some of the ethanol shortages across the country. He could have endorsed a tax on oil and coal, which of course would not lower the price of gasoline but would, again, begin to reduce demand while encouraging investment in new technologies. ... More at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/26/AR2006042602341.html
May 1, 200619 yr At least someone in the government has it right... Sunday, April 30, 2006; Posted: 12:59 p.m. EDT (16:59 GMT) Energy chief: High gas prices could last 3 years WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Acknowledging the energy situation is a "crisis," U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said Sunday it could take three years before drivers get relief from high gas prices. Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Bodman blamed the increase in gas prices on the rising cost of a barrel of oil. "The suppliers have lost control of the market and therefore, demand exceeds supply," Bodman said. ... More at: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/30/bodman.gasprices/index.html
May 1, 200619 yr Great to be here, KJP! I don't want to get too long-winded here, but the articles in the previous two posts show the point I have tried to make in other messages: That nobody---the media, Congress and certainly the White House---is talking about reducing oil consumption by providing alternative transportation. This one is so obvious, I amazed that no one is making the connection. Duh! :? What a breath of fresh air it would be if SOMEONE proposed some simple interim quick fixes such as: > Removing tax breaks the oil compaines get (let's use the Dems $10 billion) and plowing it into: a) Fast-tracking the best commuter and light rail projects already in the pipeline. b) Creating an interest-free loan program for freight and passenger rail development > Creating new tax breaks for the railroads to encourage them to add badly needed capacity: a) 100% tax break for any new construction b) A new federal tax break to offset state and local taxes on railroad rights of way and facilities. > Doubling Amtrak's budget and adding new service wherever possible, with emphasis on those state-supported plans for high speed service that are the farthest along. > Increasing the money in the FTA's small starts plan to encourage creative commuter service startups using old, refurbished equipment. KJP will probably have a lot more...this is just off the top of my head. This just goes to show what is possible.
May 1, 200619 yr Buckeye B, I'm right with you. What's lost in all this is that NOWHERE does it say that anyone is entitled to live in 3000 sf McHouse on an acre of landscaped, manicured lawn, driving 40 miles each way to work in a military-grade assault vehicle. When questioned, most of the people who live in places like this defend their right to choose where they live. Why can't they now choose to pay $3+ a gallon for gasoline? No one is addressing the root of the problem, and that is, we have created an entire nation where you have to drive to get a lousy loaf of bread. To mention this as the real problem, though, would require we admit that the American Dream is a load of BS, and that we've built our human environment improperly for the past 60 years. It's so much easier to tack $10 billion onto our deficit and mail out $100 checks to everyone.
May 1, 200619 yr Buckeye B, I'm right with you. What's lost in all this is that NOWHERE does it say that anyone is entitled to live in 3000 sf McHouse on an acre of landscaped, manicured lawn, driving 40 miles each way to work in a military-grade assault vehicle. When questioned, most of the people who live in places like this defend their right to choose where they live. Why can't they now choose to pay $3+ a gallon for gasoline? No one is addressing the root of the problem, and that is, we have created an entire nation where you have to drive to get a lousy loaf of bread. To mention this as the real problem, though, would require we admit that the American Dream is a load of BS, and that we've built our human environment improperly for the past 60 years. It's so much easier to tack $10 billion onto our deficit and mail out $100 checks to everyone. Now you are getting to the nub of the problem. How do we define the American Dream? More importantly, WHO defined the American dream? Corporate America, led by GM and others did, but I like to think the American dream should be whatever you as an individual want to be. If you want to live in that McMansion and drive a Hummer, that's great. Just be prepared to pay what is costs to maintain that lifestyle. If you want to live another lifestyle, you should have the right to do that too, without the real and artificial barriers we see today. Everything from zoning to the complete lack of transportation choice to something as simple as a lack of sidewalks promotes the use of the auto over everything else. The auto is soooo seductive. The lure of freedom promised by the open road has turned into worship of the auto and now, slavery to it. Time for a change!
May 1, 200619 yr The American Dream is not to own a new house and a new car, as it is often defined. I prefer the definition of the American Dream as living better than one's parents. For most people, this equates to owning a new house and a new car, but it doesn't have to be that way. In terms of energy use, the current generation will probably be the first to use less industrial energy per capita than their parents. In terms of industrial energy, the American Dream is over. Happiness is not directly related to energy use, so maybe Americans will be able to be as happy as their parents. There is so much gloom and doom associated with peak oil, and automobiles especially, that it's hard to imagine any other way. I have noticed that people tend to spend their leisure time in pedestrian-oriented environments, whether it be shopping malls, Disneyland, hiking trails, beaches, or trips to Europe. Maybe a benefit of the end of the automobile era will be the ability to walk around in neighborhoods again without fear of being killed by an automobile. The automobile didn't appear in quantity until about 1913, and people still managed to enjoy life without cars. One of my older relatives tells me that life was pretty good in those days. The basic problem with high gasoline prices is that Americans have made major life decisions such as where to live, where to work, and what car to drive based on a different price. When the price of gasoline rose, all of the assumptions turned out to be invalid.
May 2, 200619 yr Computing the commute With gas prices up, commuters who sought more house for their money in the outer suburbs are concerned about increasing costs. David Peterson and Laurie Blake Star Tribune Staff Writers Angie Rimbo and her husband were delighted to find a home of their own for $146,000 in Monticello, which is halfway between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. It meant a long drive to work for both. But it was brand new and cost at least $50,000 less than some older ones they'd seen. "It seemed like a good deal," she said. But the cost of gas "has me more worried every day. We have averaged $500 a month just for gas since we moved here last January." Now she's asking, "Can we afford to stay here?" The Rimbos are hardly the only folks in the Twin Cities region who have driven and driven until they've found the home they wanted for the price they wanted. But now, rising gas prices are driving families such as theirs to ask some searching questions. ... More at: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/403117.html
May 2, 200619 yr Wow! It's refreshing to read an article that actually makes the connection! I'm getting tired of reading stories about people complaining and asking the government to do something about it. Elected officials can only do so much about the commodities markets. They also avoid preaching about conservation and lifestyle changes at all costs because that doesn't win elections. It would get my vote though!
May 3, 200619 yr Gas prices crimp vacation plans Some attractions respond with special deals BY ALEXANDER COOLIDGE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER With the summer travel season less than 30 days away and gasoline flirting with $3 a gallon, some Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky residents are fretting about the cost of their plans. The higher cost of gas, however, doesn't mean that people are canceling their trips. "I'm going - the reservations are made," said James Meyer, 43, a case manager from Colerain Township. Meyer will drive 1,300 miles round trip this July for his family vacation at Myrtle Beach, S.C. ... More at: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/BIZ01/605030348/1076/BIZ What gas will cost for popular trips Destination Round Trip Cost 2003 Cost 2006 Difference (% Change) Myrtle Beach, S.C. 1,324 $93 $138 $45 (+48%) Hilton Head, S.C. 1,306 $91 $137 $46 (+51%) Orlando (Disney World) 1,796 $126 $191 $65 (+52%) Panama City, Fla. 1,440 $101 $154 $53 (+52%) Gatlinburg, Tenn. 574 $40 $60 $20 (+50%) Source: AAA Cincinnati, AAA Fuel Cost Calculator, Enquirer research
May 3, 200619 yr Oh my goodness! How will Cincinnatians ever survive the extra 20 bucks it will cost to get to Gatlinburg and back?
May 3, 200619 yr I had read that the South Shore commuter trains between South Bend and Chicago are experiencing rapid growth in ridership because of high fuel prices and road construction on the expressways in the Chicago area. I had the opportunity yesterday to verify that. The first indication I saw was on Monday night from my motel near the South Bend airport; I saw a four-car train that had departed the airport headed for Michigan City. Typically in the past, two-car trains have served 35-mile line east of Michigan City (South Bend and a flag stop at Hudson Lake). In the morning, there was a four-car train at the platform. I'm accustomed to seeing maybe a couple dozen commuters on that train, and commuters don't bother anybody; they find their seat and prepare for a day at work, doze, or listen to their ipods. And I've never seen a morning when there were no empty seats in the waiting room. The big draw yesterday was a Cubs game. The waiting room was crowded, and excited children were making so much noise that I had to go outside to wait for the train to open for boarding. Admittedly, the Cubs game was a special event, but even on game days I haven't seen crowds like that boarding at South Bend. I think that until they felt the impact of gasoline prices, most of those families piled into their SUVs and minivans and drove to Wrigley; quite a few people were trying to find out how to get there on the EL. Usually, westbound weekday trains don't fill up until Dune Park, but this time there were standees by the time we got to the second Michigan City stop. I was glad I had brought my industrial hearing protection, even though it's not completely effective against childrens' voices and some women's laughter. Napping was out of the question. I was glad to exit the train at 57th Street and not have to deal with a confused mob at Randolph Street. My return train at 3:58 p.m. was equally crowded, but mostly without the Cubs fans. Still, it was very noisy; novice commuters haven't a clue as to train etiquette ("Use your indoor voice!"). Even with hearing protection, I could hear conversations going on half a carlength away. Again, more riders than previously, all the way to South Bend. Only two cars ran east of Michigan City, but most of the seats were occupied; that didn't used to be the case. The crowding made me aware of things I hadn't noticed before. For one thing, the seating is just about as uncomfortable as airline seating, with legroom designed for people shorter than 5'5". The hard surfaces inside the cars reflect and amplify the sounds of voices and make for a noisy ride where the track is a little rough. While tolerable for shorter commutes, the whole experience is a little harsh on the 2 1/2-hour ride the full length of the line. The short-term consequences of increased ridership are discomfort and inconvenience, but maybe if the trend continues, operators will have incentive to provide more comfort and amenities. I'll continue to ride (and complain, probably). Maybe instead of hearing protection I'll start carrying duct tape :evil:. Overall the South Shore is still my best option; the trains run on time and cut off a couple of hours from my drive, and it only costs me $5.15 one way (geezer fare).
May 3, 200619 yr Oh my goodness! How will Cincinnatians ever survive the extra 20 bucks it will cost to get to Gatlinburg and back? That made me laugh, too. If some of these yahoos sat down to figure out how much it actually costs them to drive, they would sell their second or third car and change their spendthrift lifestyles. Let me provide an average driving cost from, of all places, AAA... 56 cents per mile. For a motorist driving a car they own 15,000 miles per year, that works out to $8,400. Gas is a small part (15-20 percent) of the cost equation of driving a car you own, yet everyone is in a tizzy over it. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 6, 200619 yr "Jerry Taylor, an energy analyst at the Cato Institute, which favors limited government and free markets, said the price of gasoline as a share of a worker's earnings is not that high when compared with the share of earnings 50 years ago. " Is that the price per unit, or the total price that people are paying for the gas they need to go about their daily business? I'd bet we're using more gas than in 1956.
May 6, 200619 yr Poll: High Gas Prices Hurt Many Americans By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer High pump prices are pinching the pocketbooks of seven in 10 Americans, a financial hardship that more middle- and higher-income drivers say they are beginning to feel, an AP-Ipsos poll found. With gasoline prices topping $3 a gallon for regular unleaded in many areas, people say they are driving less, cutting short vacations and curtailing their use of heating and air conditioning. "Now, I'm just going to work and coming home — not doing anything else," said Kathleen Roberts, who makes a daily, 100-mile round trip from York, Pa., to her teaching job in Baltimore. ... More at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060506/ap_on_bi_ge/gas_prices_ap_poll
May 6, 200619 yr Hey Noozer .... Go back two messages and take a look! HAHA beat ya to it! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 11, 200619 yr Have you recently switched from driving to riding RTA? If so, the Cable News Network (CNN) wants to talk with you? - - -Crews from CNN will be in town later this month to talk with commuters who have decided to "dump the pump" and use public transportation to get to work. If you would like to appear on CNN, and help RTA tell its story,send e-mail to [email protected] (please, no phone calls). Please type CNN in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail, include your contact info and a few sentences about your commuting habits, including when you switched, how much money you are saving, and any other benefits you experience. We need this info promptly, so if you are interested, please send the e-mail today. The final decisions on who to talk to will be made by CNN producers. Thank you for riding RTA. Jerry Masek Media Relations Manager Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority 216-566-5211, office www.rideRTA.com "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 11, 200619 yr The Cycling Commute Gets Chic To Encourage Biking, Cities Add Paths, Racks and Lockers; To Shower or Not to Shower? By KEVIN HELLIKER May 11, 2006; Page D1 Commuting to work by bike has renewed appeal right now. On top of health benefits -- like offering a chance to exercise without taking extra time -- it saves on the growing cost of fuel and even carries a certain cachet at the office. A growing number of cities are making it easier to ride your bike to work -- erasing hurdles big and small, from securing bikes safely downtown, to taking bikes on public transit, to finding a discreet place to shower. Eager to reduce traffic jams and pollution, cities including Chicago; Louisville, Ky.; and Portland, Ore. are adding biking-policy departments at city hall, constructing bike lanes or building bike stations where riders can park and shower. A 2004 survey of American cities found that more than 80% planned to build new bikeways. A new contest over which American cities are friendliest to cyclists has attracted 160 municipal contestants, each bragging about its bike lanes and lock-up racks. ... More at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114730873238949725.html
May 12, 200619 yr "One of the newest urban innovations: bike stations, which an increasing number of downtowns from various California cities to Washington, D.C., have added or are considering adding. Bike stations offer a safe place to park, along with lockers, showers and repair shops. The Chicago bike station, built and owned by the city, is run by a private company, which charges members $99 a year for showers, towel service and a personal locker. Denver, Seattle and Berkeley, Long Beach and Palo Alto, Calif., all have similar bike stations." Now that's a serious opportunity for an environmental entreprenueur! Maybe RTA could put these in some of it's transit stations, as well.
May 12, 200619 yr More take a liking to biking as gas soars Two-wheelers getting more use as alternative to fuel-thirsty vehicles Friday, May 12, 2006 Sherri Williams THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Photos by JEFF HINCKLEY DISPATCH Kate Seguin used to spend her mornings burning gas and time as she searched for a place to park at Ohio State University. Now, she heads for a prime spot closer to her office — she rides a bike to work. "It’s convenient for me because I live so close," said Seguin, 24, a financial education and counseling coordinator at the university’s Student Wellness Center. "I figured, why spend all that money to drive a short distance? " Buying a bicycle for her 2-mile commute, she said, "was just a one-time expense to save money over the long run." ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/05/12/20060512-A1-01.html
May 12, 200619 yr It's good news. I wonder if the bike boom will survive the first winter? Northern cities' winters bring all but the hard-core cycle commuters to a skidding halt, and some of them don't start up again the next spring. It might help if more dedicated bike paths were created for commuting instead of just scenic meandering, and if the paths were kept clear of ice and snow in the winter. City streets are dangerous enough for cyclists in clear weather, and the ineptitude and impatience of many drivers makes the situation even worse when the streets become treacherous. I used to be one of the hard-core winter cycle commuters thirty years ago, but as traffic increased and became more aggressive, I switched to shoes and the bus. The coldest day I ever biked to/from work was -17F. Chains get pretty stiff at that temp, and don't even think about trying to shift gears.
May 12, 200619 yr One thing we need more of in downtown Columbus... and in most cities for that matter..... are places to safely lock and store bicycles. OSU's campus has bike racks everywhere you look. But you be hard-pressed downtown to find them, or (if you do) find one where you feel safe in leaving your bike locked. BTW: I'm told by a bicycle advocate friend of mine that the City of Columbus is purchasing fifty new bike racks for the downtown and near-downtown area, and even a few bike lockers as an experiment to see if the demand justifies more. I would love to see some Chicago-style bike stations (Lockers, showers, vending mcahines with bike repair needs, etc).
May 12, 200619 yr My most recent workplace, Lincoln Financial, provided bike racks inside a secure parking garage, out of the weather and in a location separate from where cars were parked, protecting bikes from damage by inept drivers. My commute was short, but anyone with a long ride had access to a shower in the on-site fitness facility. In forward-thinking policy they're an exception locally, and way ahead of most other employers.
May 12, 200619 yr BTW: I'm told by a bicycle advocate friend of mine that the City of Columbus is purchasing fifty new bike racks for the downtown and near-downtown area, and even a few bike lockers as an experiment to see if the demand justifies more. I would love to see some Chicago-style bike stations (Lockers, showers, vending mcahines with bike repair needs, etc). I hope they take safeguards against this becoming a jackpot for bike thieves. I recently had my front wheel stolen while my bike was locked to a rack. They would've stolen the back wheel too if they were smart enough to get the chain off. I'm sure they would've taken the seat too if I wasn't in the habit of taking it with me after locking everything up.
May 12, 200619 yr That's the whole point of these bike stations: a safe, secure place for your bike and even a place to grab a shower, a snack for the road or even some basic bicycle needs like tire patches, a new chain, etc.
May 13, 200619 yr It will be interesting to see what dealers do with their existing inventory to get rid of the H-1's. Look for deep discounts and lease packages. Even though production will cease, these behemoths will be on the road for some time.
May 13, 200619 yr It will be interesting to see what dealers do with their existing inventory to get rid of the H-1's. Look for deep discounts and lease packages. Even though production will cease, these behemoths will be on the road for some time. Looks like I better hurry and get one o' them while I still can! :wink:
May 14, 200619 yr But what if I need to go through a muddy ravine or over a rock slide to get to the mall? What if the H2 doesn't meet all my off road suburban needs? What then, General Motors? What then?!?
May 14, 200619 yr Here's how I'm feeling it: First, gas stations are making you pre pay before filling. If you are one to use credit cards or if you always buy an even dollar amount of gasoline, it may not affect you that much. I typically top off the tank, so I have to park, walk in and pay, fill up, then walk in again to get change. I have to stand in line twice! I have a 15 gallon tank. At about $3.00 a gallon, that's about $45. To add insult to injury, the gas station won't take $50 bills! Arrrgh! Gasoline is still cheap. If you think gasoline is too expensive, then don't buy any!
May 14, 200619 yr And if you feel like you have no choice but to buy lots of gas, then it's time to change your lifestyle. If you don't want to change your lifestyle, and just want gas prices to go back the way they were, your lifestyle (and that of at least a couple hundred million others) is the reason why gas prices are rising. They will keep on rising unless enough people live within the means of a flat and soon-to-be diminishing oil supply. End of story. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 14, 200619 yr ^to point out an alternative and tail on to kjp's remarks i'll add my own: huh? gas prices have gone up? i hadn't noticed. (yes thats a joke).
May 14, 200619 yr Another sign of how our national dependence on the automobile is pinching us in the wallet THE COLOR OF MONEY Drivers stretching themselves thin with 60-month auto loans Sunday, May 14, 2006 MICHELLE SINGLETARY It appears we’ve hit another consumer milestone, and it’s not one we should be proud of. Last year, it was our savings rate. In 2005, for the first time since the Great Depression, the personalsavings rate fell into negative territory. This year, consumers have hit another landmark. The majority of auto loans are five years or longer. ... More at: http://dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/05/14/20060514-G3-01.html
May 14, 200619 yr Put your vanity on the shelf, and shop carefully for a good used car. I've never traded in a vehicle that I still owned money on, and the last three, I've written a check on the spot for the full purchase price and driven the car home the same day I found it. I haven't bought a new car since 1969, and I've had fewer problems with the used ones I've bought since then, than with the new ones I bought before (That may be somewhat due to the fact that I don't buy fast cars and beat the crap out of them, any more). I don't have to settle for junk, either. I like a decent car, but don't have to have luxury accessories like a power sun roof and a sound system with umpteen channels.
May 14, 200619 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060514/NEWS11/60514008/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published May 14, 2006 Many area drivers won't let gas costs put brakes on trips By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Gasoline prices at historic highs may be putting the pinch on family budgets, but for many people in the Toledo area, the annual family vacation trip this summer appears to be sacrosanct. “Our trips are planned, and we’re still going,” Perrysburg resident Jeff Harris said Friday of a family trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks on his horizon. “It’s going to be a road-trip summer, and I don’t think the price of gas will change anything,” agreed Jim Sabovik, a fellow Perrysburg resident. “It’s painful, but we’ll just grin and bear it.” ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060514/NEWS11/60514008/-1/NEWS
May 14, 200619 yr "huh? gas prices have gone up? i hadn't noticed. (yes thats a joke)." I never really paid much attention to gasoline prices until I found out about peak oil. In fact, in a demented sort of way, it's enjoyable to watch people squirm, whine, and get aggravated over gasoline prices. I found it kind of exciting to see gasoline break the $2.00 a gallon mark; it felt like a historical milestone. About a year ago, I heard a woman say, "Gas prices are ridiculous," and this was at $2.15 a gallon. "You ain't seen nothin' yet," I thought to myself without saying anything. There's something special about the price of gasoline: 1. It is displayed on big signs. 2. It is often quoted to the mill (0.1 cents.) 3. The quoted prices includes taxes. 4. The retail prices changes daily, and sometimes even more frequently. Can you think of any other retail product with such an interesting price? Bread? Milk? Lumber? Flour? Clothes?
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