Do you notice any effects from high gas prices in your town?

by **matt21811** » Wed 13 Jul 2005, 23:52:19

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gnm', 'G')ood thing the inflation numbers aren't including food and fuel...

-G

by **thorn** » Thu 14 Jul 2005, 09:51:19

Here is An Alternative Inflation Index

by **matt21811** » Fri 15 Jul 2005, 20:59:49

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thorn', 'H')ere is An Alternative Inflation Index

by **ubercrap** » Sat 16 Jul 2005, 01:09:28

I saw a couple of adults riding bikes somewhere with shopping bags from Wal-Mart while I was walking home from work. It was probably in the high 90's Fahrenheit. They didn't look very happy. We just had a couple of hundred layoffs at local business, including the one that I work for (yikes!). There are many more scooters zipping around than I ever remember. There are a surprising amount of vehicles in the scooter/motorcycle/bicycle parking areas at work. However, young guys still cruise around in full-size V8 pickups peeling out, speeding around the streets, and revving engines all over the place. People still commute to where I work in 1 ton crew-cab dually pickups, and even cars as old as the from the 1960's.

by **I_Like_Plants** » Sat 16 Jul 2005, 04:00:41

Ubercrap where do you live?

I live in Silicon Valley and gas is $2.61 for the cheapest grade at the station on the corner, not ultimate lowest but near it.

Not that they sell to me any more (which is too bad, I like the folks who run the place, I think they're Laotian or something and I think they take some crap from some customers).

What's weird is, I got rid of the car a couple of weeks ago and so far not a single comment about my being crazy to ride a bike everywhere. Nothing but attaboys and congrats.

by **ubercrap** » Sat 16 Jul 2005, 22:33:38

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'U')bercrap where do you live?

I live in Silicon Valley and gas is $2.61 for the cheapest grade at the station on the corner, not ultimate lowest but near it.

Not that they sell to me any more (which is too bad, I like the folks who run the place, I think they're Laotian or something and I think they take some crap from some customers).

What's weird is, I got rid of the car a couple of weeks ago and so far not a single comment about my being crazy to ride a bike everywhere. Nothing but attaboys and congrats.

by **I_Like_Plants** » Sun 17 Jul 2005, 03:21:48

OK I looked at a couple of stations today while out riding and the prices for the cheapest grade of gas are $$2.55 - $2.56.

Noted science fiction writer Ray Bradbury got arrested for walking in Los Angeles once and a friend of mine and I almost did once. Walking does not make the oil co's and the obesity doctors rich!

by **AQIUS** » Mon 18 Jul 2005, 02:55:57

never knew Bradbury was a streetwalker. guess royalty check(s) was late!?

by **I_Like_Plants** » Mon 18 Jul 2005, 05:18:04

Bradbury's never owned a car!

Weird huh?

The Hollywood area is more walkable than you'd think, and much more so years ago, Bradbury's been on this earth a long time actually.

R. Crumb's another nondriver, it's amazing, all these non-car types even when in the 50s and 60s it seemed everyone loved cars unquestioningly.

If you search around, you may be able to find a copy of a book called "The Insolent Chariots", an anti-car book written in the 1950s! Illustrated by a forgotten genius of cartooning/illustration, Osborne.

by **AQIUS** » Mon 18 Jul 2005, 12:16:05

well Plants, now that you've been " carless" for a few weeks, what are your thoughts?

by **erl** » Mon 18 Jul 2005, 14:37:42

Bradbury has never learned to drive a car. Nor does he fly in airplanes. When he travels it is by train.

He lives in Pasadena, in the area above the Rose Bowl. A very walkable place. Not Hollywood.

He was never arrested for walking. But he has been stopped by police on various occasions who wanted to know what he was doing walking around late at night.

by **erl** » Mon 18 Jul 2005, 14:42:41

Sorry, I forgot to add the reason I visited this thread.

I haven't so much noticed the affect of higher oil prices in my area as much as felt them myself.

I don't drive as much. But, I still drive a lot by most standards because my job requires it. I have, however, noticed the effect on my pocketbook. As a result, I eat out less, I am much more circumspect in my everyday purchases. I buy less extras and spend a larger part of my income on necessities and staples.

Also, it has affected my P.O. preparation in that it has slowed down. But, I am still moving forward, just not as fast.

Still, this can't be good for the economy. Proof is in the pudding when all three big U.S. carmakers are offering discounts that now average 25% off sticker price.

by **gnm** » Mon 18 Jul 2005, 14:42:48

Why is it the whole rest of the US has 87 octane minimum and here in NM we are paying $2.35 for crap gas 86 octane...

-G :-x

by **I_Like_Plants** » Mon 18 Jul 2005, 18:43:27

Aquis so far so good, it looks like I may need to buy some big boxes that will be a drag to carry on the bike so I may just walk to go get those - make a stack and on the head hehe just like my early surfing days with the board - but lighter.

I got a bike trailer and the first two uses of it I've carried about its limit, 100 lbs.

It's looking like I'll get to know my area much better than I ever would by car, just because riding a bike is so good for exploring. Like when you're a kid and you go "ride bikes" because it's fun. On the weekend I did a ride with a local club and I thought how funny, at age 42 I'm about the youngest here, and what are we doing for fun? Ride bikes.

I have a major chain market really near me which is good for stuff like toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, lots of stuff there that it's the best place to get but for food I get stuff at trader joe's.

For shipping materials, I can ride to a couple of places or I might just start ordering my shipping stuff and ziploc bags etc from uline. I'm taking my shipping to the post office by hand truck, it's not a bad walk at all and I see a lot. Interesting people and things, last time I stooped down to see if a little plant was nettles - ow, it was.

I don't have the huge legs I had last time I was bike-only but I figure that's just a matter of time.

Food costs are about the same I guess, I seem to be doing the same mix of eating out and eating at home.

by **Crusty_Ass** » Wed 20 Jul 2005, 17:53:36

I live in Leiden, a city of about 110.000 people in the Netherlands (Europe, for those geographically challenged).

Because tax on gasoline is high here I have not noticed much difference. Also, our economy is about half as energy-intensive as US economy.

The only really noticeable effect high oil prices have, is when I walk home at night.

Up to last year there was also some traffic at night where I am used to walking, but the last year this has toned down considerably. There still is some traffic, but it is much, much less now. I guess that during the night most usual traffic is for non-official or non-work stuff, so I guess people are cutting back on those trips.

There has not been any noticeable difference in overday traffic. Yet.

by **50mpgVWTDI** » Wed 20 Jul 2005, 18:58:45

Hey gnm,

We live near Socorro NM -- a very poor county. No demand elasticity yet @$2.30

Was in Alamogordo yesterday - bought gas @ $2.14

Don't think there will much if any behaviorial modification until $3.00

Agree with you on the 86 crap!

Best

by **ubercrap** » Thu 21 Jul 2005, 20:15:23

At higher altitudes, less octane is necessary.

by **lowem** » Sat 23 Jul 2005, 06:33:54

Homebodies

It's a Saturday afternoon and the carpark's pretty full.

http://www.post1.net/page/moblog/20050723#homebodies

by **eric_b** » Tue 09 Aug 2005, 22:03:23

I've got a different perspective than most folks as I commute by bike. I don't own a
car (suckas).

Last I checked regular gas was around $2.30-2.40 gallon. Probably higher now as
I haven't checked in at least a week. :roll:

I haven't noticed much difference in traffic during the rush hours - not too surprising as
people have got to get to work.

However, I swear I'm noticing less traffic at other times - especially late at night
and on the weekends.

I'm pretty nocturnal, and the streets have been dead in some areas between 12:00 - 4:00 am.
I know memory is a fickle thing, but I swear I'm seeing a lot less traffic late at night.

And I'm liking it. Cool, fresher air and less noise.

Edit: Damn, I checked gas prices here last night (Aug. 10, 2005) and they'd
jumped to around $2.45 for regular.

by **emersonbiggins** » Tue 09 Aug 2005, 22:11:39

Robert Moses (yeah, that Robert Moses), the one who railroaded urban freeways through the heart of every city that he could, didn't ever drive a car. The man responsible for at least part of the reason the U.S. doesn' t look like any other developed place on earth didn't even own a car.

Do you notice any effects from high gas prices in your town?

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