I Might Just Love Expensive Gas
According to a New York Times article from a few days ago, record numbers of people are leaving the cars in the driveway and taking to public transit. Across the country, buses and trains are filling as commuters shun their own vehicles. High (for this country) gas prices have made workers think twice about filling up and driving themselves to office.
Many people can be heard lamenting the high cost of fuel, but I wonder . . . might this not be a good thing? What other wonders might high fuel costs lead to? Carpooling? Increased fuel efficiency? Decreased air travel? More conservation around the home?
Sure, public transit is subject to the same debilitating cost concerns as other forms of travel, and food transport adds to the price tag of milk, eggs and bread. But, stay with me, what if we raised the price of gas even more? What if we taxed that liquid pollution up to 5, 6, 7 dollars a gallon and used that money to subsidize necessary and helpful fuel uses? Would things get better or worse?
Our current energy use is unsustainable, no matter what magical new fuel is supposedly on the horizon. Yet, as we have seen, if gas is cheap, we will use it. We will use it and use it and use it. Perhaps the only way to curb our insatiable appetite is to price us out of the market. What do you think?
Nic Darling is fighting a sinus infection and may not be as beautifully articulate as usual.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Last spring I decided car payments, insurance payments and mostly the rapidly rising cost of gas all suck. They suck even more when you only drive roughly 100 miles a week maximum. So I sold my car and now I ride my bike to work everyday or take the train when the weather isn’t very nice. Not only do I save money but I’m in better shape and feel great about not polluting the environment as much.
Recently two of the guys I work with started riding their bikes to work as well, one lives out in Willow Grove and the other here in the city. They both cited pretty much the same reasons as me, expensive gas! Plus it’ll give them the chance to get in better shape as well.
I honestly have no problems with the rising cost of gas. We’ve been spoiled for too long here in the US with low prices that aren’t reflected anywhere else in the world. This will eventually lead to less traffic, less pollution, higher fuel efficiency, less energy dependence, and hopefully a healthier population just to name a few.
On another note I do feel terrible though for people that can’t easily make the same change I’ve been able to do. If you don’t live in or very near an urban area I don’t envision these types of changes being possible for many.
I am urban and carless as well, and this post definitely comes from that position of privilege. As you said Brandon, I feel for those in less flexible positions.
However, it seems this sort of lifestyle shift is inevitable, and producing the cause of it artificially may allow us to soften the blow. If we are eventually going to reach the end of our cheap fuel binge, then why not start preparing people for it now?
Imagine an end to the suburban sprawl we have been creating since the 50’s, the inefficient absurdity of homes that are driving distance from everywhere. Other than benefiting us environmentally, how would it change us culturally? How might the rebirth of entangled, residential and commercial community effect our society? What might localization do to our sense of neighborhood?
Hmm . . . I sense another post in the wings. Thanks for stopping in Brandon. The comment is much appreciated.
Leave a Comment