What are Gas Prices in your city? Who else is Riding a bike instead of Driving?
02-28-11, 12:45 PM
#76
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 130
Bikes: Giant TCX 1 touring conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow. Not sure. Haven't bought gas in almost three years. It is amazing what totally passes out of your awareness once you are no longer dependent on it. One thing is certain though. My new bike build could have bought a whole lot of fuel... nothing is absolutely free, you know. Heard on the radio that prices are headed toward $4/gallon on average in the U.S. That seems about right given all the trepidation that is being felt over the revolutions in the Middle East. Funny thing, isn't it? Popular uprisings bringing freedom and democracy to countries that have been oppressed by decades of autocratic rule... something the U.S. should be celebrating, yeah? No, in fact, it just causes worry over the price of oil and drives the market down. Eye-opener, that one. One more reason to ride a bike.
02-28-11, 01:00 PM
#77
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 7,048
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 509 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
Therefore I find it hard to believe gas drives people from cars to bicycles. But I'd be interested in being shown I'm wrong. I believe most people bike for the love or for absolute necessity, not because they can save $10-$100 a month. Most people would pay that price for expediency/"perceived safety"/comfort.
(I am a bike commuter. I love bikes, don't get me wrong. I just don't buy this particular argument)
philip
For once, irrational behavior can be a good thing.
02-28-11, 01:06 PM
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 81 Times
in
64 Posts
not as insane as US politicians who kept gasoline prices low while encouraging the sales of low mpg SUVs for over 20yrs. We opted for max hp and minimal gas taxes which means we are crippled by $5/gal gas when there is NO technological reason to not be able to drive high mpg vehicles. Ensuring low cost fuel stifled the sales of high mpg vehicles and put off the day of reckoning we are at now. $5/gal gas is perfectly manageble if your vehicle gets 25mpg around town and 40mpg on the highway, or people car pool.
The total cost of gasoline consumption has been hidden from the consumer so there's no reason to use it efficiently.
The total cost of gasoline consumption has been hidden from the consumer so there's no reason to use it efficiently.
02-28-11, 01:11 PM
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 7,048
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 509 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
There are many very good and readable postings on this on Paul Krugman's blog at NYTimes. Here's a good place to start: https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/201...e-un-cola-era/
be sure to look at the links in it.
02-28-11, 03:35 PM
#81
dazed and confused
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Ireland
Posts: 251
Bikes: 2011 Cube Hyde Team Alfine 8 IGH, 2007 Giant Rock hardtail mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You guys in the states have no idea how good you have it...
In Ireland its €1.45 / liter or €5.48 a gallon. That's $6.47 a gallon.
You don't see too many SUVs here.
In Ireland its €1.45 / liter or €5.48 a gallon. That's $6.47 a gallon.
You don't see too many SUVs here.
02-28-11, 03:51 PM
#82
This bike is cat approved
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 1,531
Bikes: To many to list...
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Will more people attempt to ride a bike to save a few bucks if gas hits $5 a gallon in the US? Yes.
How many will stick with it? Some which probably won't equate to masses. lol
Green is already somewhat hip so I think some people that might not have been as inclined last time gas prices spiked might be more likely to go for the bike this time just because its the cool thing to do. It won't be a significant percentage, but its another very small factor.
02-28-11, 04:45 PM
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,753
Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times
in
207 Posts
Green is already somewhat hip so I think some people that might not have been as inclined last time gas prices spiked might be more likely to go for the bike this time just because its the cool thing to do. It won't be a significant percentage, but its another very small factor.
02-28-11, 05:12 PM
#84
Descends like a rock
People have had cheap gas for a long time. They decide where to live and work and set their budgets based on a somewhat fixed expense. When gas goes up it messes up the equation. Most people cant bike 35miles to work, there's no bus, no train, and likely no one who lives nearby to carpool with. You just suck it up and pay. Throw in people already living beyond their means on credit and you have a mess.
The US needs to wake up. The dream of cheap gas cant last forever. Building a public transit infrastructure takes decades - I'm afraid we don't have that long and we haven't even figured out that we need it yet.
02-28-11, 05:18 PM
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 1,834
Bikes: 05 Trek 5200, 07 Trek 520, 99 GT Karakoram, 08 Surly 1X1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Americans measure the 'cost' of gas directly at the gas pump, not based on driving habits. e.g. "It cost me $50 bucks to fill up today."
At some point (we don't know what point that is) the cost of gas will be high enough where usage (not pump price) will be evaluated as the cost of gas. e.g. "It cost me $4.50 to drive the kids to and from soccer practice today."
Only at that undetermined point of financial pain where we need to start examining our driving in real bite size pieces of actual cost, do I foresee any changes in driving habits and alternative forms of transportation.
At some point (we don't know what point that is) the cost of gas will be high enough where usage (not pump price) will be evaluated as the cost of gas. e.g. "It cost me $4.50 to drive the kids to and from soccer practice today."
Only at that undetermined point of financial pain where we need to start examining our driving in real bite size pieces of actual cost, do I foresee any changes in driving habits and alternative forms of transportation.
02-28-11, 05:28 PM
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 52
Bikes: 2008 Gary Fisher Tassajara
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Places to lockup
Now not only do I commute, but I love to take my bike with me whenever running errands.
As some of you may notice, I live in portland Oregon.
This is one of the largest biking communities in the country, and yet I cannot seem to find an adequate place to lockup.
I am not sure what you call them, but the bars in which you want to lockup your bike are coated, however quite worn down, and showing medal. This has resulted in scratching the frames of my bikes no matter how you position them for lockup.
Or they are strangely shaped where my bike frame wont fit the way its supposed to.
I notice lots of people in this city have the same problem, either locking up their bikes in a matter in which was not intended to prevent the scratching of their frame, or spending a minute trying to manipulate the bike in such a way to prevent scratching of either theirs or another persons frame.
This particular setup in which I have posted has this issue. Your pedals/handlebars often overlap and go into other peoples bikes. There are times I lockup my bike at a shop and I come out and someone has locked up their bike in such a manner to overstep mine.
Whats with this? surely we would have some better way of locking up bikes?
As some of you may notice, I live in portland Oregon.
This is one of the largest biking communities in the country, and yet I cannot seem to find an adequate place to lockup.
I am not sure what you call them, but the bars in which you want to lockup your bike are coated, however quite worn down, and showing medal. This has resulted in scratching the frames of my bikes no matter how you position them for lockup.
Or they are strangely shaped where my bike frame wont fit the way its supposed to.
I notice lots of people in this city have the same problem, either locking up their bikes in a matter in which was not intended to prevent the scratching of their frame, or spending a minute trying to manipulate the bike in such a way to prevent scratching of either theirs or another persons frame.
This particular setup in which I have posted has this issue. Your pedals/handlebars often overlap and go into other peoples bikes. There are times I lockup my bike at a shop and I come out and someone has locked up their bike in such a manner to overstep mine.
Whats with this? surely we would have some better way of locking up bikes?
02-28-11, 05:34 PM
#87
2 Fat 2 Furious
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: England
Posts: 3,996
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I cycle around London (England) because it's faster than driving, faster than the bus, and most of the time faster than the train on suburban routes. When I factor in the time it takes to walk to the station (which is quicker than driving to the station, and saves the cost of parking), the time to buy a ticket and the time waiting for the train then cycling is faster than taking the train for most of the journeys I make. The biggest issue is having somewhere to lock the bike at the end of it all.
02-28-11, 05:40 PM
#88
2 Fat 2 Furious
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: England
Posts: 3,996
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
$9.66? Where are you filling up? You did remember a US gallon is smaller than a UK gallon didn't you? I live in London (UK) and my local stations charge £1.30/litre. At $1.60/£1 that makes a little over $2.08/litre and 3.78 litres per US gallon that makes $7.86/gallon (slightly more than the $7 I guesstimated 5 minutes ago)
02-28-11, 06:27 PM
#89
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: I live in hot TX
Posts: 50
Bikes: Roleigh SC7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
here in new braunfels, tx gas is $3.29 have to work up to riding to work. work is 12 miles for home.
02-28-11, 10:50 PM
#90
Senior Member
02-28-11, 11:19 PM
#91
Noobie of the year :)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Hour South of Boston
Posts: 287
Bikes: 1980's Miyata Seven Ten
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
To anyone in Great Britain saying how good we have it, consider that in most places in the US, everything is overwhelmingly spread out for no good reason, and we usually must drive twice or more as far to get to a destination than you would.
03-01-11, 02:07 AM
#92
Senior Member
To summarize, gas prices may be cheap here but: 1- public transport is typically better in Europe, at least in the cities 2- things are not as spread out in Europe as they are in the US and, 3- I'd have to ride a moped to get the mileage your Mini diesel gets.
Last edited by hopperja; 03-01-11 at 02:11 AM.
03-01-11, 06:37 AM
#93
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Summit, NJ
Posts: 172
Bikes: Klein Q-Pro Carbon Team, Trek FX7.3, Bianchi Campione d'italia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
$3.43 /gallon unleaded at Exxon in Wash, DC/NoVA
03-01-11, 06:58 AM
#94
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Germantown MD
Posts: 279
Bikes: Trek Y-5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've never understood or bought into the argument that gas prices will force people onto bicycles. It's short-sighted.
(personal anecdote) My wife fuels up twice a month. It affects our budget by like $20 a month if the price raises $1-$2 a gallon. I ride my bike to work 4 or 5 times a week; I consume ~ a gallon of gas a month, myself, commuting.
(generalization) Take the total cost of ownership (TCO) - payments (if you don't own the car outright), insurance, maintenance, and gas (and parking permits/costs). Gas is just a fraction of the TCO. I know some people drive thousand(s) of miles a month; the economics might change for them but the reality is they won't be putting that mileage on a bike, most likely. And for the shorter duration drivers, again, it's just a fraction of TCO.
(math) Say insurance is $50 a month. Maintenance is about $0.10 a mile.
If you drive 100 miles @ 20 mpg = 5 gallons. At $3/gallon = $15. $5.00/gallon = $25. (maintenance: $10, insurance $50) 15+10+50 = $75. $10 difference is 13% TCO.
.. drive 1000 miles @ 20 mpg = 50 gallons. $3/gallon = $150. $5/gallon = $250 (maintenance: $100, insurance $50) 150+100+50 = $300. $100 difference is 33% TCO.
... drive 2000 miles @ 20 mpg = 100 gallons. $3/gallon = $300. $5/gallon= $500 (maintenance: $200, insurance $50) 300+200+50=$550. $200 difference is 36% TCO.
(including car payments with or without interest will push the % even lower. And I probably low-balled insurance - that's what we pay on a 2001 Taurus - many cars will exceed that amount) (do your own maintenance will drive maintenance cost down, raising %TCO)
Therefore I find it hard to believe gas drives people from cars to bicycles. But I'd be interested in being shown I'm wrong. I believe most people bike for the love or for absolute necessity, not because they can save $10-$100 a month. Most people would pay that price for expediency/"perceived safety"/comfort.
(I am a bike commuter. I love bikes, don't get me wrong. I just don't buy this particular argument)
philip
(personal anecdote) My wife fuels up twice a month. It affects our budget by like $20 a month if the price raises $1-$2 a gallon. I ride my bike to work 4 or 5 times a week; I consume ~ a gallon of gas a month, myself, commuting.
(generalization) Take the total cost of ownership (TCO) - payments (if you don't own the car outright), insurance, maintenance, and gas (and parking permits/costs). Gas is just a fraction of the TCO. I know some people drive thousand(s) of miles a month; the economics might change for them but the reality is they won't be putting that mileage on a bike, most likely. And for the shorter duration drivers, again, it's just a fraction of TCO.
(math) Say insurance is $50 a month. Maintenance is about $0.10 a mile.
If you drive 100 miles @ 20 mpg = 5 gallons. At $3/gallon = $15. $5.00/gallon = $25. (maintenance: $10, insurance $50) 15+10+50 = $75. $10 difference is 13% TCO.
.. drive 1000 miles @ 20 mpg = 50 gallons. $3/gallon = $150. $5/gallon = $250 (maintenance: $100, insurance $50) 150+100+50 = $300. $100 difference is 33% TCO.
... drive 2000 miles @ 20 mpg = 100 gallons. $3/gallon = $300. $5/gallon= $500 (maintenance: $200, insurance $50) 300+200+50=$550. $200 difference is 36% TCO.
(including car payments with or without interest will push the % even lower. And I probably low-balled insurance - that's what we pay on a 2001 Taurus - many cars will exceed that amount) (do your own maintenance will drive maintenance cost down, raising %TCO)
Therefore I find it hard to believe gas drives people from cars to bicycles. But I'd be interested in being shown I'm wrong. I believe most people bike for the love or for absolute necessity, not because they can save $10-$100 a month. Most people would pay that price for expediency/"perceived safety"/comfort.
(I am a bike commuter. I love bikes, don't get me wrong. I just don't buy this particular argument)
philip
03-01-11, 08:28 AM
#95
Bike addict, dreamer
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Gas price was never the direct reason why I commute. I wouldn't have driven to work anyway. But they did jack up mass transit fares as well as everything else.
03-01-11, 08:30 AM
#96
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 43
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
£1.43 a litre on the motorway (interstate to you lot) this morning. £97 to fill up a VW Passat or around $160.
That's around $2.34 a litre
Really you guys don't know your born..... about $8.87 a gallon.
That's around $2.34 a litre
Really you guys don't know your born..... about $8.87 a gallon.
03-01-11, 08:44 AM
#97
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 128
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I work near downtown Miami in Coconut Grove, Which is a bike friendly city, and after seeing gas jump from 3.35 to 3.61 this morning, i decided to put my Lexus in the garage and time to take out the panasonic to work!. Bought a rack and a lock and gonna first try it this Friday 
Its not just gas but the scenic route makes the commute even better.
Its not just gas but the scenic route makes the commute even better.
Last edited by ace587; 03-01-11 at 09:09 AM.
03-01-11, 09:08 AM
#100
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 81 Times
in
64 Posts
Except we did the exact opposite giving lip service to higher efficiency when what we got was higher hp for the same mpg instead of higher mpg with the same hp because fuel costs didn't drive efficiency. Look at the gov't encouraged sales of SUV/light trucks from 1990-2003, the exact opposite if efficient consumption of oil was a priority. Look at the stagnation on Fed. gas tax so highway funding now comes from general fund/debt instead of users.
Now we're screwed because there's 10'smillions of low efficiency vehicles on the road and little cash to replace them.