Get out the bikes! Gas $4.09/gal in Seattle.

[KnottedYet]

On the way home from church I passed a station with gas for $4.09/gal. (Lake City Spirit station on 125th) First time I've seen it over $4 here. The station nearest me has it for $3.99.

But what's a penny among friends, eh?

[surgtech1956]

Last week here in Michigan it went from $3.48 to $3.70 and now it down to $3.62.

[shootingstar]

wow. But I must admit I haven't paid attention to gasoline prices for over 1/4 century.

I'm not kiddin'. After I learned that in our building one pays over $15,000 to own a parking stall...even less incentive for us.

[KnottedYet]

wow. But I must admit I haven't paid attention to gasoline prices for over 1/4 century.

I'm not kiddin'. After I learned that in our building one pays over $15,000 to own a parking stall...even less incentive for us.

Good for you. I'm duly impressed.

[shootingstar]

Knotted: Several years ago, I owned my own condo and its parking spot. It was a pkg. deal.

For the first few years, I didn't even bother to figure out where my own parking spot was...that blew away my partner. He wasn't living with me at that time...

But I figure I better investigate...before someone else stole my parking spot.

I also owned a place 1/2 block away from the subway station. In cycling seasons, I biked most of the time. Subway was handy for snowy/lousy weather.

Right now, we live a 15-min. walk away from the closest commuter train station. Next year there will be another one just as close but in a different direction, going to more places.

More choices and my bikes (3). Who cares about gasoline..especially if one doesn't have young children.

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband had the pump cut him off at $90 when he was filling up his truck Friday. He loves that truck but is trying to find ways to keep it parked as much as possible. My tiny Dodge Caliber has a 13.5 gallon tank, I filled it up Saturday for over $43 and it wasn't empty yet.

Needless to say, our bikes are on the back of my car for our hybrid commute tomorrow. We will park half way (13 miles for me, 10 miles for him) and ride to work. At this point we haven't even bought commuters, our bikes are far from the ideal commuters but he has already done it twice. This will be my maiden voyage. We figure only commuting 3 days a week will save us around $40 a week with gas prices right now.

[KnottedYet]

And that $40/week can be used to buy BIKE GOODIES!!!!

Whooo-hooooo!

[F8th637]

And that $40/week can be used to buy BIKE GOODIES!!!!

Whooo-hooooo!

And that's $2080 a year. . which is a VERY nice bike!

[Geonz]

That was my thought sitting on the train going to Chicago and thinking "do I need a folder?" and how kewl it would be to have one with me... but ... hunnerts of dollers...
But... it's 1/30 of the price o fa car.
I've got that Dahon now ... our gas is only about 3.50 ...

[deedolce]

I certainly am very conscious of combining trips or doing without completely!

I see so many more bikes now, even in bike friendly Davis. Actually a good thing, I see more families, when a year or two ago, it was just the die hard commuters.

If anything, I'm thinking of getting a touring bike, that I can put my racks and panniers on, so I can go longer afield comfortably, and shop in neighboring towns of Dixon, Woodland, Vacaville!

[Bad JuJu]

Needless to say, our bikes are on the back of my car for our hybrid commute tomorrow. We will park half way (13 miles for me, 10 miles for him) and ride to work. At this point we haven't even bought commuters, our bikes are far from the ideal commuters but he has already done it twice. This will be my maiden voyage. We figure only commuting 3 days a week will save us around $40 a week with gas prices right now.

Amanda, I'm so interested in hearing how your hybrid commute works out! This is something I've been contemplating doing for a while, but until now, with high gas prices, I just haven't been motivated enough. Already have a bike I can use as a commuter, just need to think about strategy details. Where are you leaving your car? Is it a relatively safe place? Please let us know how it goes.

[Aggie_Ama]

Amanda, I'm so interested in hearing how your hybrid commute works out! This is something I've been contemplating doing for a while, but until now, with high gas prices, I just haven't been motivated enough. Already have a bike I can use as a commuter, just need to think about strategy details. Where are you leaving your car? Is it a relatively safe place? Please let us know how it goes.

The AM Commute went great! We parked our car at a well lit supermarket, with ample parking. The weather was really cool which meant only my hair got sweaty under my skull cap. Ended up being 11.97 miles, I rode hard (so easy to do with a tailwind on my roadie) and only took 40 minutes. We had to get up 40 minutes earlier to ride but I got to spend 7 miles with DH and we met a commuter that rides every day! It was really a fun morning, I am wondering how the afternoon will go. Today is my day to ride all the way home (23 or so miles).

Oh and we had mapped on my commute and done it twice prior to today. I knew where the roads with those road humps were, where to turn and my exact route. That really increased my comfort level. If I keep this up I will really rack up the bike journal miles.

[short cut sally]

I drive one of those big honkin' 4 wheel drive diesels..4.55 gallon last week. I minimize my driving just to work and back. Am considering getting a moped or dirt bike to drive back and forth to work.. I would ride my bike, but coming home at midnight 1am every night when the bars just got out is not my cup of tea. Hence why I drive a truck, way too many drunks in vehicles my size out there and I do want some protection..I did have a small car before and just about getting in 2 accidents by people in my lane (driving the wrong way) I opted for safety (DH opted for diesel). If I didn't have a fear that late at night, I would consider another little econo box for a car...however, I can ride my bike all day long and not think about the drunk driver-which I guess I should. The econo box of a vehicle offers alittle more protection than being on the bike that's for sure.

[Bad JuJu]

The AM Commute went great! We parked our car at a well lit supermarket, with ample parking. The weather was really cool which meant only my hair got sweaty under my skull cap. Ended up being 11.97 miles, I rode hard (so easy to do with a tailwind on my roadie) and only took 40 minutes. We had to get up 40 minutes earlier to ride but I got to spend 7 miles with DH and we met a commuter that rides every day! It was really a fun morning, I am wondering how the afternoon will go. Today is my day to ride all the way home (23 or so miles).

Oh and we had mapped on my commute and done it twice prior to today. I knew where the roads with those road humps were, where to turn and my exact route. That really increased my comfort level. If I keep this up I will really rack up the bike journal miles.

Thanks for the tips! I only have to be on campus two or three days a week, so I just need to decide...to do it!

[shootingstar]

It just dawned upon me...I never thought about it until now.. each of my partner's adult children (nearing 30), have never owned/leased a car yet.

Each of them do live close to public transit and they use it often. After the divorce, my partner gave up car ownership completely. And chose to live in a place close to public transit, services and stores. By then, the children were teenagers. So they used public transit to get to his place. This is a city of over 2 million people.

Now at this time, each with their own places, they walk probably at least 1-2 kms. every few days or more often on a weekly basis to do stuff. Or occasionally taxi. No, they don't bike at this time. He might have suggested once...and quickly gave up.

So I guess, if you include a generational thing of non-car ownership /non-car use, here's one example...but something that just evolved naturally over time.

When there is mass public transit strike as it happened in Toronto (several times) and Vancouver, that's when you do find out how many people don't have cars or cannot use a car for themselves (because someone else in family needs it.)

and Kelownagirl...I guess we'll find out how sprawly Kelowna is...we'll be there in June..there's a cycling meeting where the Kelowna advocacy cycling reps. will be talking about their local situation.