Are you driving less?

[tecoyah]

I was wondering how high Gasoline prices are affecting everyday life...and if you might be curtailing travel because of costs.

CNN) -- At a time when gas prices are at an all-time high, Americans have curtailed their driving at a historic rate.
art.gas.pump.gi.jpg

Americans are not driving as much as they did a year ago as gas prices skyrocket.

The Department of Transportation said figures from March show the steepest decrease in driving ever recorded.

Compared with March a year earlier, Americans drove an estimated 4.3 percent less -- that's 11 billion fewer miles, the DOT's Federal Highway Administration said Monday, calling it "the sharpest yearly drop for any month in FHWA history." Records have been kept since 1942.

According to AAA, for the first time since 2002, Americans said they were planning to drive less over the Memorial Day weekend than they did the year before.

Tracy and Adam Crews posted on iReport that their annual Memorial Day weekend has traditionally involved camping and fishing.

"Well, due to the continual rise in gas, we felt our only recourse was to nix the idea this year and stay home" in Jacksonville, Florida, they wrote.

Instead, the couple said they "decided to camp out in the backyard. We set the tent up, just finished installing our above ground pool, and cleaned up the grill. ... We have ourselves a campsite! It's been a blast!"


Nakeisha Easterwood of Smyrna, Georgia, said with gas prices on the rise, she sometimes catches rides with friends, and doesn't drive into town more than once a day. "It's crazy," she said.

According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose to a record $3.936. That compares with an average price per gallon of $3.23 last Memorial Day.

"With it being near $4 a gallon, you definitely have to drive slower and pick and choose when you're going to do it," said Steve Kahn of Roswell, Georgia, at a Memorial Day festival in Atlanta.

Some Americans have turned to public transportation. Ridership increased by 2.1 percent in 2007, in part because of rising gas prices, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, the group said.
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The Energy Information Administration says gas consumption for the first three months of 2008 is estimated to be down about 0.6 percent from the same time period in 2007.

For the summer season, gas consumption is expected to be down 0.4 percent from last year.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/26/gas.driving/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[preservanation]

No, but I don't drive much anyway...just to work and back.
The left should be happy about the high prices, people are using more mass transit and limiting their individual mobility...a great method of control over a population.

[tecoyah]

No, but I don't drive much anyway...just to work and back.
The left should be happy about the high prices, people are using more mass transit and limiting their individual mobility...a great method of control over a population.


Heh....leave it to you to start off with bashing the "Left", you really do manage to make yourself look silly on a regular basis...Neat.

[preservanation]

Heh....leave it to you to start off with bashing the "Left", you really do manage to make yourself look silly on a regular basis...Neat.Silly?
Yes they are... Geraldo Rivera: “About the only good news is that [high prices] may cut down on global warming."


The Washington Post: In a May 5 editorial advocating “a sliding-scale tax that would kick in when oil prices fell below a certain level.” If prices started to fall on their own, the tax would make sure they stayed high. The editorial played the global warming card as well, saying guaranteed higher prices would be better for the climate.

Thomas Friedman: The New York Times columnist said on April 28 that, in order to decrease dependence on foreign oil, “we need a tax on gasoline at the pump that will keep prices around $4 a gallon (still roughly $1 less than most Europeans pay), or we need a tax on vehicles that will make gas guzzlers prohibitively costly and hybrids and smaller cars enormously attractive.”

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.): “Kerry said the coalition's method did not accurately reflect... my support for a 50-cent increase in the gas tax,’ Kerry said.”

Environmental organizations and other global warming alarmists want to see Americans weaned off oil for good. It’s not surprising that they advocate high prices to stem the tide of fossil fuels.

Sierra Club: Carl Pope, executive director of the environmentalist Sierra Club, penned a column titled “We're better off without cheap gas.” , “… Our own folly is cheap fuel.” http://www.businessandmedia.org/news/2006/news20060510.asp

One thing about me...I do not make things up.

The Senate Appropriations Committee today narrowly defeated Sen. Wayne Allard's attempt to end a moratorium related to oil shale development in Colorado.



The moratorium prevents the Department of Interior from issuing regulations so that oil companies can move forward on oil-shale projects in Colorado and Utah. Allard said the moratorium has left uncertainties at a time when companies need to move forward and in the long term make the United States more energy independent.

"If we are really serious about reducing pain at the pump, this is a vote that would make a difference in people's lives," Allard argued.

But in a 14-15 vote, the committee spilt strictly on party lines and rejected the amendment.

link (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/15/panel-defeats-attempt-end-oil-shale-moratorium/)


The largest known oil shale deposits in the world are in the Green River Formation, which covers portions of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Estimates of the oil resource in place within the Green River Formation range from 1.5 to 1.8 trillion barrels. Not all resources in place are recoverable. For potentially recoverable oil shale resources, we roughly derive an upper bound of 1.1 trillion barrels of oil and a lower bound of about 500 billion barrels. For policy planning purposes, it is enough to know that any amount in this range is very high. For example, the midpoint in our estimate range, 800 billion barrels, is more than triple the proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. Present U.S. demand for petroleum products is about 20 million barrels per day. If oil shale could be used to meet a quarter of that demand, 800 billion barrels of recoverable resources would last for more than 400 years.

http://ostseis.anl.gov/guide/oilshale/index.cfm
More
http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG414.pdf

[tecoyah]

One thing about me...I do not make things up.




While an admirable trait...selective quotation is a true skill, and you also have that going for you....from your own site:

Both mining and processing of oil shale involve a variety of environmental impacts, such as global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, disturbance of mined land; impacts on wildlife and air and water quality. The development of a commercial oil shale industry in the U.S. would also have significant social and economic impacts on local communities. Of special concern in the relatively arid western United States is the large amount of water required for oil shale processing; currently, oil shale extraction and processing require several barrels of water for each barrel of oil produced, though some of the water can be recycled.

http://ostseis.anl.gov/guide/oilshale/index.cfm

One must also consider the time line to viable production, and the expected impact based on the delay in market ready supplies. Much like the ANWAR debate, it would make sense if we could just do it today, and reap the benefits....unfortunately both are a good decade from producing commercially.

[Buck Laser]

It's not a Prius. It's a Civic Hybrid, but it gets 44 or 45 mpg. But I've been planning my driving to combine tasks, and trying to keep my speed down to 55.

[DamnYankee]

Are you driving less?

I laugh at my liberal friends when they whine about fuel costs and remind them the left says no to ANWR and nuke power. They wanted misery, they got it.

I (we) don't drive any more/less than we would have otherwise. Most of our needs are within acceptable distant for a walk or bicycle ride. But we are conservationists to begin with, so we naturally conserve resources. Meanwhile our lib friends are pumping their SUV's full of $4.21 a gal. liquid gold.

[Buck Laser]

Are you driving less?

I laugh at my liberal friends when they whine about fuel costs and remind them the left says no to ANWR and nuke power. They wanted misery, they got it.

I (we) don't drive any more/less than we would have otherwise. Most of our needs are within acceptable distant for a walk or bicycle ride. But we are conservationists to begin with, so we naturally conserve resources. Meanwhile our lib friends are pumping their SUV's full of $4.21 a gal. liquid gold.

Um, Yankee...I'm not bitching about fuel costs. Perhaps we should add some tax to the price of fuel in order to encourage conservation. But of course conservatives don't seem to like conservation, do they?

I'll be for nuclear power when someone can demonstrate that there is a safe and reliable solution to storing waste. And pushing to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is surpassingly stupid. There isn't much there in comparison to the need, and it just postpones the inevitable for a very few years.

An awful lot of the SUVs I see in my neck of the woods have "W '04" stickers on 'em. I've yet to see an Obama sticker on an SUV. I did see a Beemer with an Obama sticker though.

Finally, I'm glad you walk and bike when you can. It may be that you're the only conservative I know of who actually cares about conservation.

[DANG]

Traffic is WAY down.
Thats the most obvious indicator.

[DamnYankee]

Perhaps we should add some tax to the price of fuel in order to encourage conservation. But of course conservatives don't seem to like conservation, do they?

I feel for the truckers. Any added tax will result in higher food prices or perhaps shortages.

I'll be for nuclear power when someone can demonstrate that there is a safe and reliable solution to storing waste.

True, big problem. Which is worse?

And pushing to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is surpassingly stupid. There isn't much there in comparison to the need, and it just postpones the inevitable for a very few years.

According to oil folks, there's enough there to help. And any help is a big help.

An awful lot of the SUVs I see in my neck of the woods have "W '04" stickers on 'em. I've yet to see an Obama sticker on an SUV. I did see a Beemer with an Obama sticker though.

I live in a leftist state. One of the most leftist in the country. It is the complete opposite here. A fair share of SUV's sport Clinton, Obama, and surprisingly a lot of Kerry/Edwards stickers, although obviously old.

Finally, I'm glad you walk and bike when you can. It may be that you're the only conservative I know of who actually cares about conservation.

Thanks. I wish more people cared. Maybe in time they will.

[cronic]

I drive only when I have to.. I prefer to stay inside my house..

Rarely do I go anywhere

I used to...
But,
I used to be a something!
Had a job..more importantly.. I had a Life!..

Now I'm a pathetic loser.. so.. there ya go!!

I'm at the point now where I could live completely without gasoline..
I don't need it.

I DON"T NEED ANYTHING.. BLAHHHHHHHHHHH
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Whats the thread about again?..
Oh yea..
sorry.
I drive less and this will be my first and last post for the day because I'm babbling.
Best I close out the forum now.

cronic debating skills today = 0

Sorry again ya all for moving alittle off-topic..(Hell I never do that aye?) Guess its not a good day 4 me

L8rz :bye:

[DamnYankee]

I have a question for anyone who cares to answer.

Does your state/country have the so-called "red diesel?" Diesel that is not taxed and is strictly used for off road use and farming? Or is that a California thing?

[Buck Laser]

I have a question for anyone who cares to answer.

Does your state/country have the so-called "red diesel?" Diesel that is not taxed and is strictly used for off road use and farming? Or is that a California thing?
I don't know about now, but when I was a kid many years ago, we had a gas pump at the ranch that was reserved strictly for the tractors and the truck that didn't go off ranch property. This was during WW2, and I remember my dad being very nervous about using that pump to fill up the pickup that went to town. I guess somebody audited fuel use on a regular basis. I don't know if there's still an agricultural exemption for fuel or not, but I'd guess that Texas still has one.

[Osborn F. Enready]

We are driving much less, basicly only out of necessity. When we have to make a trip someplace, we try to do as much as possible on the way, reducing later trips.

We have a 1993 Eagle Talon, Turbo- Sequential Fuel Injected, All-Wheel Drive.
We put larger upper and lower pipes, an adjustable boost controller and blow-off valve and larger throttle body on it, and it came stock with 4.93 front and rear gears with a 5-speed manual transmission. It actually gets 18-22 in the city under regular spirited driving, and has actually pulled in the 30+mpg on the expressway on cruise at around 67mph.

Low 13.0's in the quarter mile, and those mileage figures make for a pretty nice little car even though it tips the scales at a portly 3800 pounds. (all-wheel drive system is frickin' heavy!!)

All of the above between 35000 miles and 88000 miles on it.....

[preservanation]

I laugh at my liberal friends when they whine about fuel costs and......then send Obama $100,000,000, so he can raise them some more.

[lily]

Definately driving less. No more trips to the store just for bread and milk, it's close enough to walk.

I used to go North every two weeks. Haven't been there in a while. I also noticed last year there isn't many boats on the Great Lakes, which not only hurts the tourism tax dollars, but a lot of hotels, mom and pop fish bait stores, liquor stores, boat gas stores, boat repair, cabin rentals, the list is endless.

[Buck Laser]

I feel for the truckers. Any added tax will result in higher food prices or perhaps shortages.

Like prices haven't risen without additional taxes? I don't that much about truck engine fuel consumption characteristics, but I suspect that a mandated drop in maximum speeds would yield significant improvements in fuel mileage.

[BoogyMan]

I have parked my Corvette for the duration of the high fuel price fiasco and will be taking my motorcycle for the foreseeable future.

[Buck Laser]

I'm seeing more and more "Smart Cars" on the roads every day here in Austin. They look pretty vulnerable to me, and from what I read, they get about 42 mpg. I don't consider that great gas mileage, as my long term average on my Civic Hybrid is 44+ mpg. It can carry four adults in some comfort, too.

[firefox]

I found that if I drive at 65 rather than 70 the MPG on my Forrester goes up substantially. Still not great, but what do you expect from a AWD flat four tank? ;)

[cronic]

I think if all people drive 90 or 100 mph .. then shut their cars off really fast and coast as far as they can go..
Yep... thats the answer...

lol.. couldn't ya just see everyone.. racing there cars up to speed then shutting them off and coasting..ROFL..

I bet that would look funny on the expressway

[Pookie]

My luck, it would be a semi and it would run all over me, LOL! You're funny, Cronic.
No, I'm not driving less. I try to drive very little to begin with.
Purrs,
Pookie

[Saigio]

I'm not driving less, I don't drive at all. I get rides with others where I need to go. Or I walk. Once my bike is fixed, I'll be riding that everywhere I need to go in town.

[ECW]

Are you driving less?

You damn straight I am. Now, I just grab one of my Great Danes and head off to the local store with her in tow. She appreciates the walk, I need the walk and if anyone complains I just tell them that she's my protection; I could leave her at home and start packing a piece when I come here... Argument over. In fact my gas tank still has some $3.50 gas left in it...

I feel for the truckers. Any added tax will result in higher food prices or perhaps shortages.

This is where most of the damage will be done. Since we as a nation moved away from the more fuel efficient railroads and into trucks, we have been playing with fire and now we are going to get burned. They will pass those higher fuel costs on to the consumer, ASAP.

I live in a leftist state. One of the most leftist in the country. It is the complete opposite here. A fair share of SUV's sport Clinton, Obama, and surprisingly a lot of Kerry/Edwards stickers, although obviously old.

I'll see your Kerry/Edwards sticker and raise you a Clinton/Gore and a Gore/Lieberman. And I live in Texas.

[Buck Laser]

I think if all people drive 90 or 100 mph .. then shut their cars off really fast and coast as far as they can go..
Yep... thats the answer...

lol.. couldn't ya just see everyone.. racing there cars up to speed then shutting them off and coasting..ROFL..

I bet that would look funny on the expressway
Maybe you could take it a step further and use concrete walls to stop you, thus saving wear and tear on your brakes. I'm sure they must use some petroleum components in brake systems.

[cronic]

Maybe you could take it a step further and use concrete walls to stop you, thus saving wear and tear on your brakes. I'm sure they must use some petroleum components in brake systems.

concrete walls wouldn't work for the environmentalists tho.
they would cause paint chipping debris floating about from the crashing effect.

you are onto something tho..
perhaps wind sails on top of our cars.. that way we could get more coasting length and when we need to stop.. we just turn the sail the opposite way to slow us down.
:thumbsup:

[lily]

You damn straight I am. Now, I just grab one of my Great Danes and head off to the local store with her in tow. She appreciates the walk, I need the walk and if anyone complains I just tell them that she's my protection; I could leave her at home and start packing a piece when I come here... Argument over. In fact my gas tank still has some $3.50 gas left in it...


Texans must have some big balls to come up and complain about you walking a Great Dane, also I've seen pictures of your dogs and am surprised you don't ride them!:lmao:

[Buck Laser]

Texans must have some big balls to come up and complain about you walking a Great Dane, also I've seen pictures of your dogs and am surprised you don't ride them!:lmao:
The Great Danes I see at the dog park where I take Joe are all pussy cats. I guess they're big enough that they don't have to worry about their dominance. But they always seem to smell the dog treats in my pocket and some over and sniff my pocket (and my crotch). There are a couple of French Mastiffs there that act as mean as junkyard dogs...their owner does, too.

[Cobra]

I never drove much to begin with.

[ECW]

Texans must have some big balls to come up and complain about you walking a Great Dane, also I've seen pictures of your dogs and am surprised you don't ride them!:lmao:

It's not the walking so much as it is going into a store to pick something up. I leave her right outside with a sign "Working Dog - Do Not Approach" and people still try and approach her. They ask what is she working on and I tell them, "She is working on not kicking your ass for getting in my face."

The Great Danes I see at the dog park where I take Joe are all pussy cats. I guess they're big enough that they don't have to worry about their dominance. But they always seem to smell the dog treats in my pocket and some over and sniff my pocket (and my crotch). There are a couple of French Mastiffs there that act as mean as junkyard dogs...their owner does, too.

My pack leader is pretty protective of me and doesn't like people coming towards us. I let her 'speak' for herself. Otherwise, they are the gentle giants of the dog world.

All in all, the walk does us good and the gas we save helps pay for the extra beer I drink after I'm finished with the walk.

[potter]

Yup...I'm driving less. At $4.20 a gallon it's pretty easy to do. I splurged and took a drive in the beautiful Kansas flint hills this week. Good for the soul but too pricey any more. Going out to the lake on weekends is out for now.

I filled my lawnmower gas can today, it cost $10.00 :shame:

[preservanation]

At least you have a lawn...you should be subject to a windfall grass-tax.

[Rage]

Well I just thought everyone should know how it is in FL.

4.00 near the Orlando airports, and 3.25 everywhere else pretty much.

[Muser]

Are y'all aware of GasBuddy? (http://www.gasbuddy.com (http://www.gasbuddy.com/)) Quite handy for finding the cheapest gas in your particular area.

I found $3.79 last night in Corinth, TX (near Dallas) - that's the cheapest I've seen in my area without having checked gasbuddy.