Will rising gas prices drive people to pedal?
Gas in Milwaukee topped $3.90 a gallon on Monday, up $1 dollar from a year ago on a sharp climb toward the record set in 2008.
Two recent stories suggest that the drain on pocket books is pushing people to ride bikes or find other forms of transportation.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the amount of gas sold in the country has dropped for five straight weeks, and WISN-TV in Milwaukee followed local commuter Dave Steele on his bike ride into work.
It should be noted that Steele has been biking to work regularly for three or four years, so his conversion was not based on the recent spike. But his comments may encourage others to make the change. He estimates that he's saved $3,000 to $4,000 and said, "I don't even notice gas prices any more."
WISN also quoted Chris Kegel, owner of the Wheel & Sprocket Shops, which sold about 1,600 bikes over the weekend during the annual expo at State Fair Park.
I wonder how many of those sales were driven by the price of gas and how long it will take consumers to change their driving habits. My instincts tell me that it would take a few more months close to the $4 mark (and warmer temperatures).
14 Comments for "Will rising gas prices drive people to pedal?"
Convinced of the Hex Apr 12, 2011 12:51 PM
When the nurse comes around with your meds, don't run and hide anymore, okay?
If you actually think poor people don't use the roads and are not affected by the already high gasoline taxes, then you really need to get your medication level re-evaluated. I won't even begin to explain how Diamond Jim raided the transportation fund dry. That would be a little over your comprehension level, dear.
Cheesehead Apr 12, 2011 1:09 PM
car? Maintenance? Insurance? Because I commute by bike, my wife and
I get by with 1 car.
Assuming I would have paid a $400/month car payment + $150/month in
gas + $500/year maintenance, I save more than $7k PER YEAR by not
owning a 2nd car. And those made-up numbers I just used are probably
on the low end.
My bike cost $150. I maintain it myself.
waxworks Apr 12, 2011 1:29 PM
T. Held Apr 12, 2011 1:30 PM
I'm the only commuter where I work. I think it would take more than that
for any of them to commute. I'll wait to see how many new riders are out
there for Bike to Work Week.
darwinwatch Apr 12, 2011 1:31 PM
You can pay big bucks when your car hits a pothole, but you'll hurt a lot more when you crash your bike.
All the bike lanes in the world don't matter if city streets are in awful shape.
Mayor Barrett, are you listening???
Sense and Nonsense Apr 12, 2011 1:42 PM
Apr 12, 2011 1:47 PM
summing up the problem.
First off, it is a fact that rail is the most efficient form of transportation -
any way you want to measure it.
It is also a fact that regardless of how we got here, our society has
evolved to the point where cars are a necessary form of transportation
for many people.
Another fact is that there are considerable subsidies provided to the auto
industry in the form of tax breaks and the petroleum industry benefits
from numerous tax breaks as well.
One final fact to consider is that no matter how much oil we drill for, it
will eventually run out. The factors defining WHEN that will happen are
influenced by our rate of consumption and the efficiency of extraction
techniques.
Another fact is that our public spending is already very high. I completely
understand the reluctance of many people to find "new ways to spend
taxpayer's money"
For me, the question really becomes WHEN do we start doing something
to prepare for that day?
It WILL cost money to get us where we need to be in the future. What
troubles me is that it appears that there is a lot a denial going on. The
longer we put off finding solutions to the problems the more it will cost to
solve them, and the more likely that we will make more mistakes because
we will be forced to make decisions in a compressed time frame.
Like they said in the old Fram Oil filter commercials - "you can pay me
now, or pay me later".
BDWIRunner Apr 12, 2011 2:20 PM
DavidPC Apr 12, 2011 3:25 PM
serb42 Apr 12, 2011 8:35 PM
MU82 Apr 12, 2011 8:48 PM