Even the dollar bill's angry about gas prices stretching it thin!I was just wondering about something: L.A. traffic is bad. Believe me. But, it hasn't been quite that bad lately. Somebody's getting to work without getting into his car, apparently.
Are you experiencing lighter traffic than usual in your community?
Could these horrid gas prices be showing people they don't need to take their car, thereby promoting better air quality, less commuter stress, less miles on the odometer and tires?
Could this be a kind of blessing in disguise, or are you guys going to give me hell for having suggested it!? Go ahead.......tell me about your traffic and if you think this COULD be a good thing. Or if you think I've lost my mind. I can take it. :-)
sort of
z
9 comments:
Z I have owned two vehicles since I moved to Arlington, VA, which will be six years ago in September. This place makes Chicago look like a baby's play ground. In all the years I lived in my hometown my vehicles were NEVER stolen.
I move here, and guess what hun, not one, but both are stolen. Of course at different times, but nonetheless they are gone.
I decided that I could not afford to re-invest in a third car and take a chance it would be stolen, especially after you pay for plates, city sticker, go through emmission tests, pay for insurance and of course the State Luxury tax for owning a vehicle.
The first one, a Jeep Cherokee was taken right out of the parking lot where I live, and it had a club on the steering and security features.
The second one, a Dodge Caravan, was taken right outside my front door while we slept in the middle of the night. I never heard the alarm go off and that car too had a club on the steering wheel.
The police said in both instances the cars were probably towed out by professional thieves that took them to break the vehicles down for parts for older makes. They were of no help to us.
We never found either car and the insurance monies we received back was only a pittance.
I do not feel the gas crunch - but I feel it in the supermarket.
And let me share this with you Z - the people that live in the "Dirty Beltway" as this whole D.C. area and surrounding areas are referred to are self-centered, selfish, and would never give up driving. It is too much for their affluent little psyche to imagine walking two blocks to and back from the supermarket.
Less people use buses and trains here than in any other part of the nation. Everyone here drives and I see an increase in drivers instead of a decrease.
It is truly pathetic. I wonder where O'Reilly is getting his supposed numbers on boycotting buying gas and returning to old fashioned methods of transportation like buses, trains, bikes?
Because my dear it is not happening here at all I am so sorry to report.
I will be so happy when we move out of here within the coming two years. Not sure if we will return to Chicago, but we are definitely getting out of the EAST COAST area - the people are so cold and nasty here.
where I live there is no public transportation and on my commute in the mornings I definitely see less vehicles
I think more people are car pooling, this will help gas prices go down if a lot of people jump on board
the gas prices have curtailed our family events
even if we don't do anything together my gas bill for the month is $500...that's with carpooling
I travel 86 miles roundtrip to work and my wife and daughter go to school nearly as far away.
I haven't seen that big a difference in groceries
it has meant that my wife has to work an extra day and I am working overtime but you know what
I lack nothing, I have more than I can ask for...more abundantly than I can ask or think the Good Book says
Z, a cogent commentary given our current fuel situation. It seems to me, less traffic and more breathing room is nice......for those of us who can afford it.
I suppose some may be carpooling, but some simply can't afford the cost. Pricing Americans out of the mainstream is unacceptable. I can't entertain the thought that millions of people have to live under that limitaton just to make it more comfortable for some of us.
The infrastructure in this state is woefully inadequate to support the populace. Meanwhile we have politicians who welcome millions of illegal aliens, and are tripping over themselves hoping to give them drivers licenses. But, I digress.
Freedom of movement is important in a free country. While there will always be the poor who can't take advantage of some of our amenities, we surely don't want to add more to that segment of the population.
Fuel is a necessary commodity, regardless of how delighted elitists like Al Gore or Schwartzenegger might be at the thought of fewer cars on the road. It affects everything including inflation.
We have to have the goal of energy independence and promote everything which will create an abundance so that it is all available to as many as possible.
This is America, we have had tough challenges before, and overcome them. We can overcome this as well, all we need is the political will to do it.
Drill now, build nuclear power plants, refineries, reservoirs, create alternative fuels. An energy project which is a number one national priority.
I'm not willing to throw millions of citizens over the side to make it nice for me. Neither am I willing to give up my freedom of mobility. Freedom is everything.
Pris
Thanks, everyone.
Pris, I think better air and fewer cars is better for everyone.
There is no way I meant that Gore will be happy that our environment is better because we're out of cars! Hugh Hewitt's talked about this like in those terms and I disagree. It should be a matter of CHOICE when gas prices aren't a part of the equation, whether we drive or carpool or stay home. I'm for CHOICE.(only on this, of course!!)
I was only curious if this is showing we don't have to drive as much as we do. Personally, I think that's a good thing.
I live in Idaho. What's traffic?
Yes, oil and gasoline does fuel our economy , gives us our freedom.
I for one , do not like Lady Pelosi screeching let them eat cake at me as she sits in her cushy limo and gets ferried about in DC on my dime.
America is a huge country and it simply is not feasible to put everyone in buses, and trains.
This is not Europe and besides that, what right does the Elite have to tell me I have to do something?
I watch how much traveling I do because I am already on a tight budget.
WVDOTTR
bb...ya, ya..WE know! Enjoy the calm and beauty!!
I don't think it's a blessing in disguise, when the price of gas goes up, so does everything else. Then people start cutting back and spending less, then other people can't sell as much and they start cutting back, then they start letting other people go and they have even less to spend. It's a ripple effect and not always a good effect across the board.
I guess I just meant to say that it's not a really bad thing when people somehow realize they CAN get by without driving....and continue to do so.
? NO? Why not?
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