Gas prices....?

Question

What do you think?

How high will gas prices need to affect people?

When will it affect how people drive?

It strikes me as unusual that people really don't do anything with their driving habits when those same people drive like maniacs. I will be at a pump and someone will be complaining about how high gas prices have gotten and gripes and b!tches when gas prices get higher. But is the same person that speeds off like a bat out of hell, weave in and out of traffic with no regard for the speed limit.

Most people in general refuse to utilize public transportation (with exeptions like New York and Chicago and places with a large metropolitan downtown area), or carpool, and the single most effective way to reduce fuel consumption is slowing down. Yet very few people do.

How high will the prices need to go?

We are still a modernized country that pays relatively low gas prices (compared to most European nations) and our gas prices have not risen with the rate of inflation.

How low do we want our prices to be? When will we seriously start thinking about alternatives? I thought consumers had the ability to effect legislation and force companies to meet our demands?

Answer 1

I live in Portland, OR and we have a wonderful public transportation system. A combination of both buses and light rail. It is always expanding. The trains runs through downtown, to the airport, major shopping centers, convention center, anywhere where demand is high. I commute daily using this system. It is well used and often there is standing room only.
However, there are some people who are not affected by high gas prices. Those who own big expensive cars, who don't conserve fuel or care about the environment. For them, price is no object. They would not change their habits for $25 a gallon. But, most of us are on a budget and are affected.

Answer 2

It affected us when it went to 1.75! Not even 5 years ago when we lived outside Mass. we bought it for .99 gal. Now we pay close to $3. Those were the good ole days. We don't have public transportation in our town and it's quite rural so you have to do some driving just to get to the grocery store/post office. etc.I drive the speed limit (usually) and I try to plan my route to use the least amount of gas possible. I'm dumbstruck when I see large trucks/SUVs which I know are paying $60-80 easy for a tank of gas and they're flying down the interstate. Maybe they have enough money that they don't feel the pinch. Common sense would tell you to slow down or find alternative forms of transportation when gas prices are high but didn't you hear....common sense died long ago.

Answer 3

People hate to lose their freedom, the ability to come and go when ever we want. We don't want to wait for 20 mins to get a ride when we could already be 1/2 way there.

I have cut down on my driving as much as I can. I keep my truck in tune and air in the tires with clean filters. I drive like I have some sense, and try to take it easy. So what ever the price of gas goes to, then I'll have to pay it. I can't cut back anymore. I even sold my toy mustang to help cut back.

I don't want to give up any freedoms after I fought in the military to preserve them. good luck

Answer 4

well speeding has nothing to do with gas prices actually weaving in and out of traffic would cause better gas mileage opposed to running your car in stop and go traffic. When gas prices get over $5 a gallon i think many people will switch to biodiesel, electric, or the corn oil fuel.

Answer 5

I've bought less than 10 tanks of gas this whole year. Maybe only 7 or 8. I take public transportation any time I can.

Of course, gas prices won't effect me even at $10 a gallon. Sucks for all of you who voted for Bush, you deserve to bleed for that oil, just like the Iraqis bleed for us to have it.

I'm getting a hybrid as soon as my car is paid off next spring, if I don't decide to join the free and carless.

Answer 6

they would have to go over $5 a gallon before you would see a mass effect. I personally would like to see all the monster trucks off the road.

Answer 7

gas prices are affected by oil hungry countries starting wars in oil rich Nations,Like Iraq.

Answer 8

Prices will keep going up...
Some say they will stop at 5.00 per gal.
I am amazed to still see so many of the larger vehicles still on road.

Answer 9

Man, I know about this. This is why I push Diesel cars so much, and I ride a scdooter..

I am building a "Cabinscooter" for winter time..
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/CabinScooters/

Answer 10

no matter what people are going to keep on buying it no matter how high they go