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Gas Prices Fuel Increased Mass Transit Use
by
findingDulcinea Staff
by Cara McDonough
More Americans are using public transportation as gas prices climb. Yet prices still aren’t high enough for some drivers to say goodbye to their cars.
More Americans are using public transportation as gas prices climb. Yet prices still aren’t high enough for some drivers to say goodbye to their cars.
30-Second Summary
Faced with soaring gas prices, more Americans are taking public transportation, particularly in Boston, reports the Boston Globe.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said this week that the number of riders on three of the five lines on the T—Boston’s subway system—surged nearly 10 percent in the first three months of this year, an unusually high increase.
Los Angeles, Washington, Philadelphia and New York have all seen increases in public transportation use this year as well, although not in such dramatic numbers.
“People don’t have the disposable income that they had to dump into the gas tank,” says Boston resident Geoffrey Campbell, who recently ditched his car and started taking the T to work.
Others report, however, that some drivers aren’t letting go. High school parking lots in Warwick, R.I., are still packed, as teens don’t want to give up their cars no matter how expensive gas gets, reports the Warwick Beacon. “That yellow bus; a lot of kids call it the Loser Cruiser,” said Pilgrim High School Assistant Principal Marie Cote.
And Americans are still planning to drive or fly to summer vacations despite gas prices expected to soar past $4 per gallon. Rather than avoid summer travel, many plan to make up for higher fuel costs with other cuts in their travel expenses, such as staying at budget hotels.
But many of those who still insist on driving are buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, meaning trouble for Detroit’s “big three” automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, who have seen recent losses in their SUV and pickup truck sales.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said this week that the number of riders on three of the five lines on the T—Boston’s subway system—surged nearly 10 percent in the first three months of this year, an unusually high increase.
Los Angeles, Washington, Philadelphia and New York have all seen increases in public transportation use this year as well, although not in such dramatic numbers.
“People don’t have the disposable income that they had to dump into the gas tank,” says Boston resident Geoffrey Campbell, who recently ditched his car and started taking the T to work.
Others report, however, that some drivers aren’t letting go. High school parking lots in Warwick, R.I., are still packed, as teens don’t want to give up their cars no matter how expensive gas gets, reports the Warwick Beacon. “That yellow bus; a lot of kids call it the Loser Cruiser,” said Pilgrim High School Assistant Principal Marie Cote.
And Americans are still planning to drive or fly to summer vacations despite gas prices expected to soar past $4 per gallon. Rather than avoid summer travel, many plan to make up for higher fuel costs with other cuts in their travel expenses, such as staying at budget hotels.
But many of those who still insist on driving are buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, meaning trouble for Detroit’s “big three” automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, who have seen recent losses in their SUV and pickup truck sales.
Headline Link: Public transportation use rises in Boston, other cities
MBTA officials see the increase in subway users as great news, but drivers who have had to give up their cars in exchange for pubic transportation have mixed emotions about giving up the freedom of the road. “I used to always drive in the morning, but with these gas prices? Forget about it,” said Boston area John Garceau.
Source: Boston Globe
Related Topics: Some Americans still cling to their cars
Few teens have given up their “chariots” even with soaring gas costs, reports the Rhode Island newspaper The Warwick Beacon. While a few students have opted to carpool, the parking lot at Warwick high schools are still full of students’ cars.
Source: The Warwick Beacon
Even though drivers know that slowing down is one sure way to improve gas mileage, and thus save money, “most drivers still appear to be winking at posted speed limits because they say their time is worth more than the gas they’d save by slowing down,” reports the Associated Press.
Source: The Houston Chronicle (Associated Press)
Many Americans still plan to travel this summer despite a slow economy, weak dollar and high gas prices, while others are staying close to home. Stay-at-home vacations, or “staycations,” including excursions to museums and outlet malls are becoming more commonplace, as well.
Source: findingDulcinea
U.S. automakers struggle as Americans switch to smaller cars
The Guardian wrote about the bleak era for Detroit’s “big three”—General Motors, Ford and Chrysler—in Janurary 2007: “Concerned at the price of fuel, American car buyers are switching to smaller vehicles. At the Detroit [auto] show, a screen opposite the convention centre showed promotions for Smart cars. Inside, the Mini stand attracted crowds drawn by a DJ pumping out dance tracks.”
Source: The Guardian
The priciest cities for drivers
Gas prices vary from state to state, but the cost of fuel isn’t the only factor when analyzing which cities are most expensive for drivers, reports Forbes. For instance, gas prices in Texas are cheapest nationwide, but traffic and sprawl, low carpooling rates, and lack of public transportation mean Houston ranks ninth in the nation among metro areas affected by gas prices.
Source: Forbes
Background: Rising oil and gas prices and how to conserve
Oil jumped to $112 a barrel Tuesday, and the government said this week that it expects gas prices to peak at a national average of $3.73 a gallon in June, just as the summer driving season begins.
Source: The New York Times
Many experts believe that the supply of oil, America’s primary source of energy, is leveling off and may soon begin to drop permanently. Americans can conserve now to avert a drastic shortfall, and findingDulcinea reports on 10 practical ways to do so—including taking public transportation.
Source: findingDulcinea
Reference: Public transportation options and tips for saving on fuel
The American Public Transportation Association provides a variety of resources about using public transportation, including an interactive map to inform people living all over the country about public transportation opportunities in their communities.
Source: The American Public Transportation Association
GasBuddy.com provides up-to-date gas prices all over the nation. On the site, volunteers submit updated gas prices at local stations, creating comprehensive guides to local gas markets.
Source: GasBuddy.com
American automobile group AAA provides a Fuel Cost Calculator on its Web site. Travelers provide their starting city, destination, vehicle make, year and model, and are given an estimate of how much money their trip will cost them in gas.
Source: Fuel Cost Calculator
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