What is your limit? How high will gas have to get before you stop driving?

Question

What is your limit? How high will gas have to get before you stop driving?

Answer 1

My limit was 10 yrs ago when gas went to $1.85. I got rid of my gas lawn mower and my 1982 jeep. Started riding my bicycle to work and using an electric lawn mower.

I figured that if gas went to $1.85 a gallon what would keep it from going to $2.85 or $3.85 or $5.00.

Good Question!

Answer 2

I also condense my trips out for errands.  My husband convinced me to let him get a chevy trailblazer that only gets 19 mpg... because he wanted to be able to haul our little utility trailer and also our pop-up when we go camping.  It has come in handy getting lots of free materials for our garden, though.  My husband has a roundtrip commute of about 50 miles and drives a little Geo Metro that gets about 45 mpg... he recently purchased a slightly newer one so that he could cannibalize one if the other went downhill.  It's hard, because I stay at home with my daughter and really wouldn't want to go back to work.  My husband wouldn't be able to find a job that would pay as much as his current one, so unfortunately, we'd end up paying maybe up to $4 or 5 dollars a gallon and try to cut back in other areas of our lives.  What I really want to do is get some land and then get some chickens, a cow, maybe a horse for transportation occasionally and have a large vegetable garden.  I really want to get into homesteading and love the idea of being self-sufficient.  Who knows what will happen?  Here's a really good link I came across recently and even if you don't believe in the peak oil theory, it's got some great suggestions for ways to prepare and be able to survive if something major does happen.  

http://www.eartheasy.com/article_ten_way...

Answer 3

I do not have a limit.  Sadly I do not feel safe if I were to ride my bicycle to and from work due to road and traffic conditions and the reputation of the city.  I would consider an even higher mileage motorcycle or scooter.  Friend at work rides a Honda Helix.  Gets around 70 mpg.  My current cycle gets around 32 mpg.  My other bike gets close to 50 mpg.  We are considering a high gas mileage car to replace my aging van.  Hard to go into debt again now that we have everything paid off.

Answer 4

I will never stop driving.  I just hedge against the higher oil prices by buying stock in ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil.  When the gas prices go up, the stock prices go up.  I don't lose money this way.

Answer 5

I curtailed MY driving way back in 1999.  Initially, it was due to the lousy traffic-conditions here in the San Jose / San Francisco area.

I was able to commute and do most of my shopping by train and bicycle from 1999-2005.  I then changed jobs that required a "work-truck"... I usually drive it to the job site on Monday, ride my bike and the train home... and then drive my truck home when the job is done.

My "travelling" car is a 1994 Nissan Pulsar that STILL gets 32 MPG city and up to 55 MPG highway... but I only use IT about three times a month.

Just FYI, walking and bicycle riding is MUCH cheaper than a gym membership.

Answer 6

I had a limit, it was called $2.50. Unfortunately I will never see that again in my life.

I try to bike more, I may invest in rollerblades. There are stores around where I live, and I definitely combine my trips into one. And when the summer farmer's markets start up I am going to go there for veggies and fruits and stuff. Also the bus is free for university students so I try to do that. Unfortunately the lack of time gets the best of me. I'm not perfect, just like everyone else.

Everyone needs to set their priorities. Perhaps splurge on one but restrict on the rest. But it would help if everyone just stayed home and did things locally, instead of traveling 100+ miles to get to work. I told my family that if they want to see me that badly, that they should pay me to come home. Or come visit me, either or. I live 4 hours away from my family, btw.

I've always combined my trips. I've always used my car sparingly. I've always kept up on the maintenance of my car. And it takes until now for the rest of the nation to realize they drive too much? Insane.

Answer 7

I have already started dramatically cutting back on my driving, never doing one errand if I can fit in 3 or 4, and calling  different locations rather then just dropping by to see what's available. It still seems like I am driving too much...wish it were easier to walk or bike ride to the different locations I need to get to!

Answer 8

I already parked my gas car,and use my diesel,that powered by used vegetable oils.