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

[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.

[Trek420]

I'd made it a training goal this year to bike to work twice a week, this is just gravy on the cake I already know that riding to work has many benefits this just solidifies it.

This is an international board and I'm not saying that Americans are isolated or ... I'm jut not sayin' but for many here in the U.S unless you travel or know people out of the country many here are not aware that our prices have been really unusually low.

[Tuckervill]

It all makes me so sad, tho. And our gas is cheap compared to many parts of the country--$3.35 this morning. We live on the edge of Oklahoma, where gas is cheaper (probably because of fewer taxes). It seems the retailers in my little town feel the need to compete with those in NE Oklahoma, so they keep prices at Tulsa rates. Yet, 25 miles to the east, it's sometimes (often) 25 cents higher per gallon. Unfortunately, I have to go into "town" once or twice a week. But I'm working on not doing it so often.

What makes me sad...all the people who are struggling to make ends meet when they HAVE to drive to "town" to go to work. Then all the people who are making payments on 20mpg-or-less vehicles, which they usually drive over the speed limit, and finding they have to put the gas on their credit card to make it to work this week. And pretty soon it accumulates and we have people in full blown financial distress. If they had just started taking their foot off the gas pedal more often, they could have started planning ahead for this. That's just one tiny segment, the one I used to be in years ago, so I identify with them more than the people who are plucking chickens across the creek from me. (Those people are already walking/biking/ride-sharing to work, and living nearby.)

And our president is surprised when a reporter asks about $4 a gallon gas. Not to make this political, but I'm cynical enough to think that the dead silence from our leaders is election-year related...and optimistic enough to think that things will get better immediately after the election, no matter who wins.

Karen

[Brandi]

$88.01 to fill up our truck yesterday! I told my dh not to go nuts when he saw how much it was going to cost. We have one car between us. And I have my scooter. It cost me like $2.25 maybe to fill the tank and that last's me about 100 miles. I ride it on most of my domestic errands. But when we have to go into town in the truck (which is about 20 minutes down the road), we make sure we do a few things not just 1 thing.
I don't know maybe having just one car doesn't hurt us as much at the pump? But it is a truck, we have to have it for work too there is no getting around that. I just try and ride my scooter as much as I can.

[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.

[SouthernBelle]

I think part of the problem we have in North America is that we are so spread out in some areas. I'm looking for a bike suitable for commuting, but my commute is less than 2 miles. I'm less than a mile from a grocery. I live in town. But I know people who are many miles from either. Often those in more densely populated areas don't get that.

Also I've noted that the days of the country grocery store seem to be past.

[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.

[kat_h]

A quick reminder to everyone who still needs to drive sometimes (including me) :

- make sure your tires are properly inflated
- replace your air filter recently
- get tune ups regularly including new spark plugs and checking the timing
- clean out the trunk. get rid of heavy stuff that you don't need to carry around

All of those will improve your fuel efficiency. We tend to focus on the dramatic changes but the things add up too.

[F8th637]

Great tips, kat_h!

I started driving the speed limit for the first time since I've probably gotten my license. I had to put it on cruise control but at least I felt like I was helping myself. . some.

[tulip]

Great tips, kat_h!

I started driving the speed limit for the first time since I've probably gotten my license. I had to put it on cruise control but at least I felt like I was helping myself. . some.

I did that today, coming home from my partner's house, which is about 70 miles away. I go there every weekend, and that's about the only time I use my car. Driving the speed limit, I found myself alot more relaxed, actually.

[F8th637]

I did that today, coming home from my partner's house, which is about 70 miles away. I go there every weekend, and that's about the only time I use my car. Driving the speed limit, I found myself alot more relaxed, actually.

It's funny how I don't mind being passed while I'm on my bike but I really hate being passed in a car. We all have to make adjustments, right?

[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!

[Deborajen]

Boy, watching gas prices go up and up I'd love to commute by bike right now. I'm going to wait a few months, though. There is a bridge closed for rebuild on a main road between home and work that's sending lots of crazy rush-hour traffic through my normally quiet neighborhood route. It's scary enough in the car - forget the bike!

Somebody did call the opinion line recently for our local newspaper and made a comment that with high gas prices, now it's time to spend some money to finish and fix up the bike routes "because that'll be the only way some people will be able to afford to get to work anymore." It was probably smart-a$$, but I'll take it!

Deb

[kat_h]

I was thinking about this thread while I was reading the news today. The article I read said that the price of rice doubled in 2007 and has increased by 30% so far in 2008. As much as we all worry about the price of gas most of us have ways to reduce what we use and ultimately can afford it. There must be people sitting around discussing the price of rice, trading tips for how to use a bit less in each meal, comparing what they paid for it, except rice is one of the most fundamental basics in the world and gas is still really a luxury item. The next couple of years could be interesting.

[Grog]

I was thinking about this thread while I was reading the news today. The article I read said that the price of rice doubled in 2007 and has increased by 30% so far in 2008. As much as we all worry about the price of gas most of us have ways to reduce what we use and ultimately can afford it. There must be people sitting around discussing the price of rice, trading tips for how to use a bit less in each meal, comparing what they paid for it, except rice is one of the most fundamental basics in the world and gas is still really a luxury item. The next couple of years could be interesting.

Exactly my thoughts.

Interesting times ahead.