What is the price threshhold that gasoline must reach before you'll drive less?

Question

What price will drastically change your driving habits? Experts used to say it was $3.00 per gallon, but we've passed that and no one's really buying less gas. So, what IS your threshhold price? And when that gets hit, what will you do? Ride your bike? Ride mass transit? Carpool?

Answer 1

There is no "set" number where people start driving less, for a variety of reasons. First is inflation, although these days it really isn't the biggest player. Basically, as everything inflates people are OK with the higher prices because - in theory anyway - they are making more.



  This same phenomenon occurs when they keep jacking the prices up really high, and we all complain for awhile, so then they lower the price and we all shut up. Except the price never drops to where it was originally, even when adjusted for inflation. By continuing this cycle the large oil conglomerates can reap ever-increasing profits and we never cut back or complain all that much.

   Same principle as with the American car assembly lines from the early 1900's. the bosses would just turn up the speed of the line until people complained, then turn it down just a little. And the next day, he'd do it again. By doing this, his production line got increasingly faster but the workers were rarely pushed to the point of striking. The only way to really bring down the price is of gas is for everyone to go on "strike" and not use any gas for several weeks.

Answer 2

Good question.    I have already cut back.   We have two vehicles and now we only maintain one.    I plan my trips along with my hubby , so we can do all our errands as we go on down the line.    I have cut back, but the prices still go up.       I can  and will ride the bike to the grocery store.

Answer 3

I already ride my bike. It saves me a ton of money, improves my health, and makes my butt look good. Paying for gas prices this high is ridiculous.

Answer 4

Sadly, I'll just pay whatever price they charge -- I love driving and I'm too addicted to it to cut back.    

I ride bicycles for fun and exercise, but I might start riding a little more if the price of gasoline were to hit about $10 / gallon.

Answer 5

Our family had already started to cut down on driving, back when the price was around $2.50 per gallon. We've started taking the bus to appointments, running errands all at once instead in multiple trips, and we're also doing  a lot more shopping in our neighborhood - driving to the discount stores across town just to save a couple bucks on groceries or dvd rentals just doesn't make sense anymore.

Answer 6

Maybe around $10 a gallon.  Adjusting for inflation, gasoline prices are about the same as 50 years ago.  Also, prices in America have always been about half the prices in the rest of the world.  Good public transportation systems would make it easier to rely less on private cars, and $10 gasoline would provide the pressure for the creation of public transportation better than what we have.  When better mass transit is available, I'll use it.

Answer 7

A very good question, if rhetorical. Actually, there is a distribution of needs and incomes, so a price increase will gradually affect the poorest and those with the least need to drive first.

Why does the US spend so much on personal transport and so little on public? Interesting trivium: GM purchased trolley makers in the 1930's and then stopped producing trolleys.

Answer 8

$1.00 a gallon

been driving less and less all the time.

Answer 9

i say if it reaches $5.00, i'm changing jobs and finding one that's close to my house.  unfortunately for me, i have 2 jobs and they are on the opposite side of the city.  i need both jobs for various reasons.  i probably would stop going out to lunch and bringing sack lunch.

Answer 10

When the price includes body parts.

"That'll be $100.00 a gallon and a kidney."

"This week's special is $99.99 a gallon and your pinky toe."

Answer 11

$6.66, thats just asking for trouble

Answer 12

I've already cut back a lot. I ride my motorcycle when the weather permits.