$ gas prices = WOW!

[Mr. Bloom]

Many of us are not in a position to commute to work for a host of logistical reasons, but for those who can't, consider all the other short trips you can eliminate in your life and still save a fortune.

A DOT study indicates that 50% of trips are three miles or less

My car normally gets 25-30mpg, but on a three mile trip, it averages 10mpg because it never warms up. So, if my math is right, I break-even on the cost of a commuter if I eliminate about 300 short trips... That sounds like a lot until I realize that I have two grocery stores, 4 drug stores, 1 Target, 1 K-Mart, 1 post office, 1 mall, at least 16 fast foods, 3 bookstores, 3 Starbucks, and 1 COLDSTONE within an easy three mile radius of my house...so it's less than 1/day for a year.

[Tri Girl]

A DOT study indicates that 50% of trips are three miles or less

My car normally gets 25-30mpg, but on a three mile trip, it averages 10mpg because it never warms up. So, if my math is right, I break-even on the cost of a commuter if I eliminate about 300 short trips... That sounds like a lot until I realize that I have two grocery stores, 4 drug stores, 1 Target, 1 K-Mart, 1 post office, 1 mall, at least 16 fast foods, 3 bookstores, 3 Starbucks, and 1 COLDSTONE within an easy three mile radius of my house...so it's less than 1/day for a year.

I like the way you think, Mr.!
Since most of our trips are short- that's the best way to eliminate your dependence on the car. You can use the car for work and still save buckets worth of cash AND be doing something healthy for you and the planet.
It may take longer to get my bike ready than to just grab the keys, but I've never once regretted riding my bike instead of driving. Bikes are great- but we all know that here.
Now if I could just get my city to put bike racks out so I could stop locking my bike to signposts...

[badger]

I was just talking with co-workers how EVERYTHING is so darn expensive here in Canada, it's not even funny. I went down stateside last weekend and stocked up on groceries - bread is still dirt cheap there! $2.99 for an Ezekiel loaf that costs us $7 up here.

A lot of things defies simple logic, as our dollar is actually stronger than the US dollar right now, but I also know we're taxed to death on everything. The same $5 bottle of wine is $17 up here. Same with our gas, it's taxed, taxed, and then taxed some more. One of the taxes is for our public transit system; I wouldn't feel bad in paying it if we actually had a decent system, but it's apalling. They increase fees all the time, cut routes, and they often go "missing" and end up having to wait longer for the next bus. For some people the high cost to use transit is actually poor incentive to leave cars at home; it's actually cheaper to drive.

[Bike Writer]

Gas prices = grrrrrrrrrr!

I drive a car that gets good mileage but it's a poke up the road to visit my family. I can bike to work if the weather cooperates but these gas prices still get my goat!

[Koronin]

I like many others can't commute for work. After the last time gas went up rediculously high I cut out as much driving as possible and have tried to stick to that as best I can. With my work I can do some of my shopping after I'm finished working since I do do some work in grocery stores, drug stores, and dollar stores. So that does help. We just bought a home and are in the process of moving in. I don't think we'll get much out of a graden this year, but are planning on one for next year. I did get my blueberry bushes planted inthe ground instead of keeping them in pots, so hopefully by next summer we'll have some blueberries. We also bought two strawberry bushes (on sale at Lowe's for half price) which are also planted. Hopefully that will be a good start.
Also I'm considering after we get some debt (credit card) paid off, looking into getting solar pannels installed on our new home. No HOA to worry about, and there are about a dozen homes in the neighborhood with solar pannels.

[tulip]

Koronin, solar panels are all well and good, but you'll get alot more bang for your buck if you spend your money on really good insulation. Get a blower door test and find a really good insulating contractor who will look at everything and install it properly.

* * *

I filled up my little car today for $47. Since I usually fill up once a month or so, it's not a hardship for me, but if I had to do it every few days, I would have a problem.

[Koronin]

tulip, thanks for the tip. One of my thoughts on the solar panels is that eventually getting an electric car that I can use for around town trips and merchandising and by having solar panels that I won't be paying the electric company to charge my car. (Yes I'm sure it's a crazy idea, but it something I've thought about). The only real problem with that is my trips to Wilmington for work and my once a month route of stores out of town may be a bit too far for an electric car at least at this point. I know the trips to Wilmington are out of range for all electric cars except the Tesla electric sports car that I can't afford anyway. We're talking around 60 miles each way, plus whatever driving I have to do there and the electric cars are way too small (no storage space) for everything I'd need to lug with me. But for my regular jobs they could definitely work.

[westtexas]

I have mixed feelings about the rise in gas prices. My father is an engineer for a large oil company and rising prices means he keeps his job (or his benefits once he retires). In three weeks I'm moving to a town that is heavily dependent on oil for its economy - so right now it's booming so bad there's a housing shortage. So really, so far in my life, rising gas and oil prices have always signaled better times for me and my family.

One thing I have noticed is that many whom have commented so far on this thread that commute to work frequently or run errands on their bikes with regularity, live in a place where the climate can support that kind of thing. Where I am moving it's already averaging temperature in the upper 90s and they've even had a day that was 102 (admittedly, my whole state is literally on fire right now, so that doesn't help). Where I am now it's in the low 90s to upper 80s but the humidity is typically 90%+. My new town is the dry desert (thank goodness). Even so, I will live ~3 miles from my job and I am hesitant about commuting. I can't even do it here. It's not because of traffic and it's not because there are unsafe routes, but rather it's so hot here that I would be a sweaty, disgusting mess when I arrived. And I work with people all day in a highly professional setting, so this would not be okay (and no shower option at work). So I typically drive the very short distance to work and to all my errands close by because I simply cannot live without a/c! I am so glad that I am fortunate enough that I will have a career that pays better than average and I will be able to support my love of hot weather and still afford the fuel I need to stay comfortable.