| $4 per Gallon Gas a Good Thing? |
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| Written by Joshua Liberles | |||||||||
| Wednesday, 16 January 2008 | |||||||||
.jpg) We all know that oil prices have been on the rise. Supplies are not unlimited and between the political instability in the Middle East, the imminent potential for violence in Nigeria, and a host of other variables – we don't exactly have a reliable influx.
As EcoGeek reports, the recent $100 per barrel oil price that threatens to return could very well mean $4 / gallon gas pump prices by spring.
When the United States faced oil embargoes in the 70’s, one positive result was the demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Since that time, and lacking any firm incentives from consumers, greenwashing notwithstanding, the auto industry has barely made an improvement in their lineups’ gas-stinginess.
In Europe, where petrol prices are several times higher than the U.S., small, efficient cars are the norm. But there’s also an accompanying tradition of good mast transit, walkable cities, and a support for cycling. Perhaps a spike in fuel prices is just what we need in the U.S. We’ll be forced to stop developing sprawl, which in turn increases gas consumption, pollutes our air, causes global warming, and perhaps kills us all.
It’s no secret that our oil supply is finite. Why burn it all up and suffer the accompanying ill-effects rather than prioritizing more sustainable alternatives now? More importantly – why haven’t we realized that there are solutions staring us in the face based on old technology? Legs for walking, bicycles, trains, heck – even subways and buses have been around for a long time. What will it take for us to realize that driving a car with a gas-fired internal combustion engine is the root of many of the problems we face?
The overused analogy of “the frog in the pot” seems the most apropos. When the temperature is slowly raised, the frog stays immersed and slowly cooks to death. Perhaps a spike in gas prices is just the pronounced temperature increase we need to make us jump from the cauldron and save our own asses.
Via our friends at EcoGeek.
Comments (4)
J.C. Sr.
said:
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Heck---Even subways and buses? Can you imagine the millions of people getting around New York City any other way? Oh yeah in Tokyo they ride lots of bikes..... to the subway. |
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Thank you. J.C. Sr... better cars just mean more sprawl we need free public transit.... . |
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I wouldn't wish too hard for high gas prices. I live in the UK and diesel is about $8 a gallon and increasing steadily. The alternatives to cars aren't great. The trains are expensive, unreliable and there is never a seat. Buses are reasonably priced and clean, but are not very regular outside major towns and are non existent at night in rural areas. I like to cycle, but decent cycleways are rare and the roads are very busy even in the countryside. The road surfaces are very poorly maintained, a major hazard on a bicycle and when you park your bike, people nick bits off it (or sometimes the whole bike). I live in a fairly quiet area, I hate to think what it's like in rough areas. |
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Two factors here play in on Rob's post. One is demand for public transit with no "guaranteed" users. There needs to be a demand before service can be provided. But, many folks refuse to take the plunge of carlessness as there are no other options in many places. The other issue is without a car, one learns that many "trips" are unnecessary, and one stays home more, or in the "neighborhood" more. This is a fundamental change in attitude, which, surprisingly enough, leads to a simplifying of life. One still makes those trips deemed necessary or important, but most frivolous excursions are gradually deleted from one's habits, leading to more time to pursue other interests or those things most important things in life, family and neighborhood relations. |
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