Sunday, March 27, 2011

Gas is over $4 a gallon

On April 7th, I will return a car I have been driving for nearly a year to it's owner. I will then be without a car again. This will give me an opportunity to revisit what I felt nearly 3 years ago when giving up my own car. Interestingly, gas had gone above $4 a gallon then. It seems there is much less concern or panic that gas is as high as it is. Probably $5 is the threshold for panic/worry at this point. I think that rising gas prices, while not good for the economy or people with lower incomes, higher gas prices will lead to more alternatives to automobile for day to day transportation which is a good thing. Most alternatives to the automobile have multiple benefits both for society and the environment. I have been riding my bicycle to work, but not for any other errands really. I quote Oscar Wilde here "I can resist everything except temptation." Initially, early in the year, I drove the car less. But as the year progressed, I drove it more. One can do
a lot with a car, there is a sense of getting around and accomplishing a lot and as Americans we admire that. It is part of our culture to do a lot, see a lot, and be busy. All this busy-ness has a cost which we largely ignore. I am looking forward to slowing down the pace of my life in a couple of weeks, to get back to my inner snail. Thanks for the year in the car Andy.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Happy the hear that your back on two wheels !I dont think Austin will fit in the back seat anymore though...and thank you for having driven us on tne crazy sierra roads !