Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

design219 · May 1, 2008 , 06:57 PM

I am. Although I only have an 8-mile drive to work, I've cut back on any unnecessary driving. Not so much because of the cost, but it just doesn't seem like a good idea right now.

boy8cookie · May 1, 2008 , 07:01 PM

I drive as little as possible. Gas is $3.90 for regular here, and I have a mid sized SUV (I need room for equipment in my vehicle), so I get 18-24 MPG. Luckily most of my life is within walking distance, and I only find myself driving when I need to move more than just myself.

sek929 · May 1, 2008 , 07:18 PM

Hell yeah, gas is $3.60 here and my truck gets 17-20 MPG.

I've been carpooling/making less trips whenever I can.

alligator · May 1, 2008 , 08:04 PM

I can't cut back. I really only drive to and from work, which is 30 miles one-way. I can't bike that far, there are no city streets (other than freeways) that make sense to take. That leaves me with driving, which I'll still have to do even if gas is $10/gallon. *sigh*

peeb · May 1, 2008 , 08:21 PM

Alligator, just out of interest, where does gas fit in as a proportion of your income - do you spend more on gas than on heating, or food, for example? How big a deal is it?

NeXTLoop · May 1, 2008 , 08:26 PM

I'm getting ready to buy a motorcycle for running errands. 70 MPG and cheaper upkeep and maintenance compared to a vehicle. I'm still keeping my SUV, but will rely on the motorcycle whenever possible.

peeb · May 1, 2008 , 08:26 PM

Do you use the SUV for anything that you couldn't use a more gas efficient car for?

Eug · May 1, 2008 , 08:36 PM

My driving habits haven't changed at all. Mind you, I drive a Prius, which uses less gas than the Yaris.

Actually, that's not true. I drive more often than I used to, since I've been lazy and haven't be riding my bicycle like I did in the past. Part of that has to do with the distance though. I used to ride 12 km to work. Now it would be around 15-16, since I moved. Good way to get in shape though. Maybe I'll start up again with the bike this month.

Art Vandelay · May 1, 2008 , 08:36 PM

I haven't had to buy gas in about 2 years. Has it gone up since then?

Eug · May 1, 2008 , 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

I haven't had to buy gas in about 2 years.

Don't own a car? Just wondering.

Has it gone up since then?

You jest, but the rise in price has affected everything, from electricity to food, etc.

Art Vandelay · May 1, 2008 , 09:18 PM

I sold my car two years ago. I live within a 5 minute walk to work. Everything I need is within walking distance. If not, I either take the bus or use a Zipcar. It's quite liberating not having to deal with the expenses of having a car.

64stang06 · May 1, 2008 , 09:27 PM

I drive way less now. I fill up about once a month, maybe longer.

Eug · May 1, 2008 , 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

I sold my car two years ago. I live within a 5 minute walk to work. Everything I need is within walking distance. If not, I either take the bus or use a Zipcar. It's quite liberating not having to deal with the expenses of having a car.

Well, 5 minutes from where I work is an expensive area. To get a house that some people in this forum might be used to would cost over $2 million.

Laminar · May 1, 2008 , 09:38 PM

Not a whole lot. Mind you, I don't randomly cruise around for fun like I did in high school when gas was $1.30 a gallon and my car got 29mpg easily. Now I'm buying premium at $3.75/gallon and getting 20mpg. My city is working on a bike trail that would go from my house to my work which should be done in a month or so, but it would be about a half hour ride, and I would be completely covered in sweat by the end of it, so I just drive 6 minutes each way. I do go home to Iowa about once a month, and that usually costs me at least $100 in gas for the weekend, with a 210-350 mile trip each way depending on who I'm visiting, plus driving around once I'm there.

Eug · May 1, 2008 , 09:51 PM

it would be about a half hour ride, and I would be completely covered in sweat by the end of it, so I just drive 6 minutes each way.

Yeah, riding my bicycle adds over 30 minutes to my commute each way, if you include the shower time. (Luckily I found a shower in the complex at my workplace that all employees can use. Otherwise I'd never ride my bike to work.)

The other problem is that Toronto sucks for bike lanes. You have to fight with the cars. Nonetheless I think I will try riding there once in a while, when I'm not in a rush or have early meetings or whatever.

However, to be honest, this is NOT to save gas. This is for the exercise.

Laminar · May 1, 2008 , 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Yeah, riding my bicycle adds over 30 minutes to my commute each way, if you include the shower time. (Luckily I found a shower in the complex at my workplace that all employees can use. Otherwise I'd never ride my bike to work.)

The other problem is that Toronto sucks for bike lanes. You have to fight with the cars. Nonetheless I think I will try riding there once in a while, when I'm not in a rush or have early meetings or whatever.

However, to be honest, this is NOT to save gas. This is for the exercise.

As it is now, I'd have to cross two major highways and an interstate to get to work. When the bike path is done, it should be smooth sailing all the way there, except as soon as it gets over about 76F I start sweating just standing around, so biking would really do me in. Plus getting up a half hour earlier would NOT work well for me. If there was some way I could drive to work and bike home, that would be ideal.

Mastrap · May 1, 2008 , 10:38 PM

The lease on our car is running out next year in February and I am seriously considering not buying another one. We have a ZipCar lot close by, we live in a downtown neighbourhood (Parkdale, at Queen and Dufferin for my fellow Torontonians) with excellent public transport and everything we need within walking distance. For weekends at the cottage a rental car would probably still work out cheaper than actually owning a car.

turtle777 · May 1, 2008 , 11:06 PM

Nope.

No viable public transportation around.
And riding a bike in the US is mostly a suicide mission. I'm not gonna risk my health / life for saving on gas.

-t

Railroader · May 1, 2008 , 11:30 PM

My driving habits haven't changed. And it seems like traffic is getting worse and worse around here. Probably from orange barrel season arriving.

peeb · May 1, 2008 , 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

And riding a bike in the US is mostly a suicide mission. I'm not gonna risk my health / life for saving on gas.

I'm not sure that's really true. I think the evidence suggests that it's not particularly dangerous.

turtle777 · May 1, 2008 , 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

I'm not sure that's really true. I think the evidence suggests that it's not particularly dangerous.

The evidence ?

The evidence for me is seeing idiots driving cars every day.

Looking out for bikes is NOT very high on the list of training when you get your DL in the US. People just don't drive with bikers in mind.

Nah, thanks. Too risky.

-t

SSharon · May 1, 2008 , 11:47 PM

I drive 25 miles each way to school. There is no real public transportation to speak of and I worked 2 jobs this past semester so I was driving a lot.

I try to cut down on driving, but I can't avoid going to school and that is what uses up most of my gas. My 92' camry is down to 22mpg which is also starting to hurt.
My ez-pass bill isn't as big as my gas bill, but it isn't insignificant either.