Gas it down

[ukbb]

With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, metro Detroiters are changing the way they live.

Some are parking their cars on weekends or whenever the money budgeted for gas is finished.

Others are cutting back on visits to family and friends.

Still others are riding scooters, motorcycles and bicycles, or carpooling to work. And a record number
of people are riding SMART buses. Latest figures show 250,528 people a week rode a SMART bus in
April of this year, up from 228,724 last April.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...ES01/806090314

[Sara Noel]

I'm outside of the area, but I've seen an increase in bicycle riders. (and no, not just because it's warmer out LOL) We live in a city that's perfect for motorcycles, walking, scooters and bikes. We don't have a public bus, but do have dial a ride. While I'm not happy that gas prices are higher, it's great to see people using other methods of transportation.

[MomToTwoBoys]

Calgary is huge on public transit. We have the LRT (light rail transit), the bus lines and people are more prone to walking when it's really nice outside. All of the LRT stations here are great because you can park for free and then ride the train. You spend 2.50 per adult and that pass will get you around for quite a way before you have to pay more. It's great for us because now I can take the train wherever I want to go and I don't have to drag the family around (especially if I need to run errands downtown).

[CanadianTreehugger]

Edmonton has pretty good public transportation too and a light rail. I've also seen more and more people biking lately. Its also the Bike Month festival up here this month

Its nice to see..oh and I'm seeing more and more smart cars driving around too.

[Mom23boys]

I am not happy with the rise of gas prices either, but we must have some form of transportation in the area we live in. We are in a very rural community with no grocery store, only convience or corner stores. If we plan on going to the doctor, grocery store, library, movies, etc., we have to travel to another town to do so. I would hate to have to ride a bike that far as it would take some time to get there. DH has considered purchasing a scooter to ride to work, but I think we are just going to swap vehicles since I do not have to work during the summer and am home. My car will save on gas compared to his truck.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I am not happy with the rise of gas prices either, but we must have some form of transportation in the area we live in. We are in a very rural community with no grocery store, only convience or corner stores. If we plan on going to the doctor, grocery store, library, movies, etc., we have to travel to another town to do so. I would hate to have to ride a bike that far as it would take some time to get there. DH has considered purchasing a scooter to ride to work, but I think we are just going to swap vehicles since I do not have to work during the summer and am home. My car will save on gas compared to his truck.

DH was talking to me about getting a motorcycle for him to take to work and how much that would save us gas in the long run. It's something that's a feasible thing to look at, especially if you guys live in such a remote area.

[freebs]

We live 30 miles from walmart, target, dollar tree things like that. In 15 miles i could get to a local grocery store that has higher prices than anywhere else. We do not have public trans here for my local area but in the town 30 miles from here there is buses and cabs. So now dh travels to work and the kids and i stay home!

[Fitgal827]

I feel fortunate that I can take the public transportation to work. My car sits for most of the day. On the weekends when I work at my second job, I do drive 30 miles one way. If gas prices get above $4.50, I may reconsider staying at the second job since it doesn't pay that well.

[ShadowMom]

I ride my motorcycle everywhere, including church! My bike gets about 50-55 mpg, my husbands gets about 42-48 mpg. We have even used the two bikes to get our groceries, we once managed to fit $150 worth of groceries on them.
The truck only gets used during hunting season or when something needs to be hauled, the car only gets used in bad weather.

ShadowMom

[DonnainME]

We live in a rural area. My car gets 30 to 35 miles per gallon but we are still majorly limiting our driving. I am trying to plan as many things that we need to do during the same trip. Tomorrow we are going 50 miles to another town that doubles coupons. On the way, we are doing a delivery (I sell Avon) 20 miles away, then going to the thrift store in the other town before going to that grocery store. We will probably pick up a movie on the way back (movie store has 1 week rentals for $1.50). We usually only go to the double coupon store once a month but it more than pays for the trip in savings.

[Bournecrazy]

We live in a rural area. My car gets 30 to 35 miles per gallon but we are still majorly limiting our driving.

my car does the same 30-35 mpg but doesnt last long when, only about 2 weeks and going to work is only a 6 mile round trip done almost everyday occasionally twice a day.

Everyone is panic buying fuel at the moment some places have ran out. (due to high prices and a tanker/driver strike)

[treeluva]

My town has a public transit system, but using it takes at least 2 hours a day. In a town where I could drive anywhere I need to go in less than 20 minutes. It is so impractical... not to mention every time I pass a bus there is only about 7 passengers on it, which really gets my goat. I know that bus fares are NOT covering the cost of gas these days, so it is being subsidized by the tax payers. Which wouldn't bother me so much if more people used the service. But with it taking 2 hours to get somewhere that should take less than 20 minutes by car, I don't forsee many more people using the service.

[tina150]

I'm about an hour north of Detroit, but no way would I take the bus or ride a bike to my work here, way too unsafe... I would probably get "bikejacked", I only drive about 3 miles to work anyway so I don't think it would make much of a difference for me

[Russ]

I'm about an hour north of Detroit, but no way would I take the bus or ride a bike to my work here, way too unsafe... I would probably get "bikejacked", I only drive about 3 miles to work anyway so I don't think it would make much of a difference for me

we must live close to one another. I'm about an hour and 1/2 north of the murder city.

I have been car pooling for about 4 years. When it is not my turn to drive, my vehicle RARELY leaves the driveway.

[freyadog]

We also live very rural. Dh and I had discussed getting him a motorcycle of some type but I cringe at the thought of him going up and down the mountain on a bike. It just makes the hair on the back of my neck tingle.

We had thought about getting a small car instead of using his truck but the insurance, tags, stickers, upkeep etc. and the cost of the car itself and having to keep insurance on his truck for hauling hay and logs just would not offset the gas that we use. IMO.....