Gas prices spur interest in cheaper rides

September 2nd, 2005 by Mike

Via: LJWorld.com

Scooter sales are up in Lawrence. The bicycle shops are busier than usual. And hybrid car sales are brisk.

Outrageously expensive gasoline is prompting some local drivers to get out of their cars and sport utility vehicles and seek out other, less expensive forms of transportation.

�I think we�re seeing a little bit more of new bike sales, and we�re seeing a lot more of people dragging their bikes out of the garage and getting them fixed,� said Dan Hughes, owner of Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop.

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We all are feeling the pain of gas prices going up right now. It definitely hurts the pocket book to pay over $3.00 a gallon when you are on a “blue collar” budget. I heard an interesting argument while watching the news. An anchor was asking a conservationist why OPEC can’t take a 20% decrease in profit to help bring down the price of gas. Just a 20% decrease. The conservationist did have something interesting to say though. He said that in order for Americans and people in general to conserve fuel and not waste it, would it be better to lower the price of gas or to keep it high to force them to conserve. I think that because of how much Americans rely on gasoline powered transportation it is a good idea to lower the prices, if not you may have a riot on your hands. On the other hand I think that there should be some incentives put into place to make people want to conserve, if that is a major issue. I have heard many different viewpoints on the price of gas like we pay over $3 for a 16 oz cup of coffee why are crying about paying over $3 for gas. My answer to that is we don’t have to rely on coffee to get back and forth to work or to get our children to school. I want prices to go down but conservation isn’t a bad thing either. What are your thoughts on the issue? I’m ready for a break in the prices, as I’m sure everyone else is.

5 Responses to “Gas prices spur interest in cheaper rides”

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1 Fat Lad on Sep 2nd, 2005 at 8:29 am

High petrol (gas) prices are something we have had in the UK for a long time now. It doesn’t stop people from over using their cars though. The higher average salaries and standard of living here (compared to the eighties not you guys) has meant a rise in car ownership too.

We have a crazy situation here too where for most people (me included) it’s cheaper to own and run a car than to use public transport.

London has seen a greater increase in people cyclin g due to the bombings but for the rest of us city dwellers in blighty the car still rules supreme.

Fat Lad
2 gwadzilla on Sep 2nd, 2005 at 2:02 pm

for some reason the car equals freedom

everyone wants to drive

as for me….

I would much rather go by bicycle
but
I would enjoy it if the cars were a little more respectful when they pass
3 RL on Sep 2nd, 2005 at 2:51 pm

Commuting by bike is very dear to me. But what sucks for me is that my current job is moving to a location that is 30 miles away. I know I could probably ride my bike to work, but it’s a bit too far for me. That’s 60 miles a day! So needless to say I am looking for a new job that’s closer to my home.
4 Russ on Sep 2nd, 2005 at 5:59 pm

I ride to work once or twice a week on average. But with the increase in prices, I’m riding a little more frequently.

What I’m interesting in seeing is what happens when the supply issues are sorted out and the prices drop, are people going to continue doing the things they did to save on gas?
5 Mike on Sep 2nd, 2005 at 9:10 pm

My answer to that question is, “Heck No!” Except for the few people that realize the physical benefit as well as the financial benefit, I would have to say that most people would not continue to bike to work. Conservationism is in the back of everyone’s mind when your paying less than $2 a gallon for gas. I will admit it has been in the back of my mind.

Gas prices spur interest in cheaper rides

5 Responses to “Gas prices spur interest in cheaper rides”

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