Off the Road Again

With the national average of gas prices well over the $4 per gallon mark, the AAA reports a dip in consumption of 3.3% over last year. With the 4th of July travel weekend just passed, Americans use of gasoline dropped to a five-year low. Does this suggest that more urban city-dwellers are spending their vacations at ‘Tar Beach’?

The fact is that more of us are making smarter travel choices. As a youth in the 60′s, the family would go for a joy-ride. In fact, I just drove ‘up the country’ to visit my father with my family, and my brother in his family. It wasn’t a joy ride, but we took in as much of the sights of Upstate New York along the way. We were focused on the destination rather than a random trip for enjoyment. This is how many people might spend their gasoline budget – wisely.

I feel bad for the people who rely on their car as necessary transportation for work and livelihood; they have no choice. The good news is that higher gasoline prices force us to THINK of why we get in the car before pulling out of the driveway. If the prices DO reduce demand and prices soften, will we then return to the joyriding days and reject viable alternative fuels? I hope not.

WSJ: Gas Prices Spur Drivers to Cut Use to Five-Year Lows