Americans are making fewer summer trips by car and driving fewer miles for the first time in decades. Summer driving has dropped steadily every year, according to AAA, and the Transportation Department reported last week that in March of 2008, U.S. drivers logged 11 billion fewer miles than in March of 2007, a 4.3% decline. Not since 1979 has traffic dropped from one March to the next; not since 1942 has traffic seen such a significant decline, month-on-month. The demand for gas has also fallen, for the first time in 17 years.

As gas prices skyrocket, Americans are adjusting their commutes. From the NYT:

Hating every minute of it, Americans are slowly learning to live with high gasoline prices. For a nation accustomed to cheap fuel, big vehicles and sprawling suburbs, the adjustments are wrenching.

Cory Asmus of Temecula, Calif., just bought a $4,800 motorcycle for his 20-mile drive to work so he could cut his gas bill to $8 a week, from $110.

 

Florian Bialas, a retiree who lives near Chicago, sold his Pontiac Sunfire for $3,000 and plans to give up his license when it expires in September. “I can walk to most places where I need to go,” he said.

 

And Debbie Gloyd of Cleveland has parked her Chrysler Concorde and started taking the bus to work. “I can’t afford these gas prices,” she said. “They’re insane.”

Experts predict that cutting down on car travel is more than a temporary fix or a side effect of a fizzling economy. The changes Americans are making now will likely endure and, with luck, will reduce our overall dependence on fuel—and motivate us to find more ecological alternatives.

Lee Schipper, a visiting scholar at the transportation center of the University of California, Berkeley, called the changes in gas prices and consumer habits a “wake-up call.” He told the NYT, “We actually have a lot of choices, based on what car we drive, where we live, how much time we choose to drive, and where we choose to go. But you have built in a very strong car dependency. And when the price hits the fan, people have a hard time coping.”

Photos via flickr by Nat and jonk.

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Blair Landon said:

Making the most of your gas is really important in this day and age where gas is slowly creeping up to 5 dollars a gallon. Spending more money at the gas pump will take away money from other things you could be doing this summer. But thanks to Jack in the Box you will not have to miis out on food. You love those tacos from Jack in the Box, don’t deny it.—the crispy goodness with the melted cheese, hot sauce and crisp lettuce on the inside. With gas becoming more and more expensive, Jack wants to help you fill your stomach. Bring any gas receipt to Jack in the Box next Thursday, June 26th, and get TWO FREE TACOS. No gimmicks, no hidden fees, no purchase necessary—just two free tacos! Let all your friends know if they like taaaaacos

June 23, 2008 | url

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