Gas costs forcing drivers to cut back

[unhappycamper]

Gas costs forcing drivers to cut back
By Robert Gavin
Globe Staff / February 24, 2008

Gasoline prices have risen so high and stayed high for so long, that Americans are finally doing what once seemed unthinkable: driving less.

Inveterate drivers are carpooling, combining errands to eliminate trips, trying mass transit, and even walking. As a result, gasoline consumption, which grew steadily in recent years as prices passed $2, $2.50, and $3 a gallon, has flattened and even declined, according to the US Energy Department.

Average daily gasoline consumption in the United States has decreased in each of the past four weeks from a year ago, according to recent data. In the past six months, average daily consumption slipped two-tenths of a percent from a year earlier, after growing 2.5 percent in the previous year.

In the Northeast, gasoline demand has dropped as much as 3 percent, after growing 1 to 2 percent annually in recent years, said Joe Petrowski, chief executive of Gulf Oil LP, a Newton wholesaler and distributor that supplies about 10 percent of the region's gas stations.

Among the signs that drivers are cutting back from last year: They're buying nearly 2 gallons less per card transaction at Gulf-supplied stations, said Petrowski.


Rest of article at: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/24/gas_costs_forcing_drivers_to_cut_back/

[Dr.Phool]

1. It's causing me to make some changes.

I went from Tampa to Myrtle Beach, SC this week on Amtrak. I'd normally drive. It takes about 10 hours. Amtrak took 11 hours, counting the bus to Orlando, but it was cheaper than what I would have spent for gas in my little 4 cylinder S-10. And gas has gone up $.30 per gallon here in the last week.

And it was actually an enjoyable ride. I didn't have to drive. I kicked back with a portable DVD player (they have AC outlets at every aisle), and a good book. I also brought my own libations aboard.

If I drove, it would have cost me almost $200 for gas round-trip. Airfare on short notice was almost $500. The train cost $129 round-trip, and you can buy one-way with no penalty, and at the last minute.

[marmar]

18. Yup....I used to drive frequently from Detroit to visit friends in Chicago and Toronto......

..... but at $48 roundtrip (with the, ironically, Auto Club discount) on Amtrak, it's so, so much cheaper and hassle-free to take the Train to Chicago.

..... and even the $110 roundtrip on VIA Rail Canada to Toronto ends up being cheaper when you factor in the extortionate downtown parking costs. And it's a pleasant 3 1/2 hour ride on the very comfy and prompt Canadian train system.

[cornermouse]

2. Meanwhile, the local media

gets on there and tells us how lucky we are that gas prices won't be going up as much as they thought they would. :grr:

[Dr.Phool]

3. Last Sunday, I was driving back from the dog park with the hounds.

Gas was $2.88. On Tuesday, before I left town it was $3.03. I got back in town yesterday afternoon, and it was $3.19. Over a 10% increase in less than a week.

[cornermouse]

8. I know the feeling.

:(

[spinbaby]

4. We pay more for gas than food

The last car we bought was a Prius but my husband still needs a truck for work. Because we're rural, it's really hard to cut down on driving. Some of our neighbors are having trouble affording the gas to get to work and the fuel oil to heat their house.

[SpiralHawk]

5. "Thank you for your generous donations to the republicon oil party. Smirk" - Commander AWOL

[onethatcares]

6. not to worry, soon the gas companies will

be blaming the lack of sales for the need to increase prices. Kinda like a twi light episode of supply and demand, or reaganomics

[Marblehead]

7. soon

there will be the air car available in the US...http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4251491.html

[cornermouse]

9. Cool.

I wonder if carbon dioxide could be a future source of energy. I'm afraid we're going to need to do something to counterbalance the effect of all the trees that are being cut down in the name of progress. I'd buy/invest in one.

[DainBramaged]

10. Right, from Tata, you'd drive that on the road?

Tatas are not for driving on the road..........

Not in the US.

[cornermouse]

11. Where else are you going to drive it?

Across a pasture?

:eyes:

Of course I'd drive it on a road.

[DainBramaged]

12. So you'd get in one of those (to drive for $18,000)

if you really think they will be made legal for use on US roads?

You may as well drive a golf cart on the interstate.

[cornermouse]

13. People ride motorcycles on the interstate.

And realistically speaking any car of any size that goes up against one of the semi's that overpopulate the interstate is going to lose.

[Marblehead]

15. it is inevitable

as gas prices itself out of the market,3.50 this year how about next year. If GM had any smarts it would get the volt on the road ASAP. I think there would be a huge market for the air car.

[DainBramaged]

16. So it's ok to outsource our tech and clerical jobs to India

And drive their cars too? Sorry. That's the reason the middle class is now the lower class. Cheap imports instead of American made goods.

Tata!

[cornermouse]

17. Well, you know...

If our automobile industry would use their brains, they would be in the process of developing and producing them here. Instead, they're choosing to produce large cars with "reduced" mileage which is still not great mileage. The foreign cars are beating them at every turn.

[Squatch]

14. Demand has slowed but prices are still rising?

:shrug: