it seems like everybody is talking right now about gas prices and how it's a very real possibility that gas prices could jump to as high as $4 this summer. of course, our fucking president had no idea this was going on, which i find very comforting.
i've been thinking a lot about how i can cut back on my gas usage as it warms up. i definitely have a tendency to drive a lot, so i need to start by trying to bike/walk as much as possible, especially when my destination is in the fan.
i was considering biking to work a few times a week, which is about an 8-mile trip each way. that's definitely a little intense, especially because my route is on some crazy roads that aren't at all bike-friendly. for my richmond bike friends, which is worse.. riding up cary st and down huguenot to cross the huguenot bridge.. or going across the nickel bridge and taking forest hill all the way down to huguenot? with each of these scenarios i can envision me getting hit by multiple speeding commuters in their SUVs.
i'm definitely going to try to cut back on trips to far-off places. that probably includes being smarter about drives home to springfield. i did the math. right now at current gas prices it's about $17 to go up and back. at $4 it will be $22 for the trip. ridiculous. i might make more of an effort to catch rides up and back or to offer rides to friends who can help pitch in on gas money.
to my friends currently on tour - i have no idea HOW bands are going to be able to handle rising gas prices. the standard $100 guarantee hasn't budged in what seems like forever. i doubt promoters are gonna start shelling out more money or that kids are going to care any more than they already do/don't. it's a bad scenario.
to my friends, i'm curious - are you worried about the rise in gas prices? what are you planning to do about it? what price does it need to reach for you to change your habits?
8 months ago
3 comments:
I have to admit that I never look at gas prices, because either way I'm going to have to pay it at some point. So I can either pay it and get bummed, or just pay it and go about my merry way.
Habits = changed, though. Ever since I started working downtown in August, I've been riding my bike or walking to work. I rarely ever have to go to the gas station anymore, because I'm not commuting out to Innsbrook. So with the exception of trips to Target / Ukrops for errands and trips to my parents' house, I don't do much riding in the car. It is amazing how much I've noticed the savings in money. I'm really lucky to live less than a mile away from work though.
It has been said that it was going to take $4 per gallon to get people to start thinking about this issue.
Winter is hard, but once it gets warm out, it is much easier to bike/walk around everywhere.
As far as that commute to work goes...
Last summer when I got my road bike, I decided that the 11 mile ride from my house to work would not be all that bad. I worked my way up to doing longer rides so that I would be prepped for the morning commute.
I did it once. I budgeted a little over an hour to get from Jackson Ward to the south side. In my bag, I packed a towel, some fresh clothes, and lots o water.
It took 1 hour and 15 minutes. I arrived at work smothered in sweat. I felt like I was going to die the entire time. After you cross the Huguenot bridge, it is pretty much all uphill. Drivers are not so friendly about sharing their right lane once you pass the Country Club of VA.
I got a ride home that night.
Make sure you are tracking all of your gas miles that are work related. They have been reimbursing as opposed to using the AMEX and it actually works out in your favor. 48 cents per mile or something like that.
I just bought a civic hybrid and so far, I've gotten 45 miles to the gallon which is so great. I also carpool to work so I'm just driving every other day which saves me 125 miles a week.
So on one tank (12 gallons) I can go about 540 miles which will last me about 3 weeks.
You should totally get one!
Post a Comment