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Automotive News & Views Are gas prices fueling your pain? 
10042 messages, Last post on Jul 12, 2008 at 3:07 PM
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I've biked 3 of the 4 days this week to work, which is 3.9 miles each way. The day I didn't bike was 95+F w/high humidity, and I needed to pick-up a gal. of milk. Here's my report so far. - I ride 75% of it on the sidewalk, though in some spots - across 1 small bridge there is no sidewalk or road, besides the 2 lanes; and in downtown the sidewalk is crowded and illegal for riding. - My main concern is when I'm on the narrow road parts; I had a large dump-truck come with 1'-2' yesterday, of side-swiping me. - A little rain or condensation makes the seat wet everyday. I live in an apt. complex now and its's a hassle trying to get the bike thru the security doors everynight, so outside it stays. - Since I have no cup-holder, I don't take my coffee. I end up buying it at work. Also since I have to leave 15 min. earlier, I cut the coffee-making from my schedule. So that cuts into my savings. So in summary: I estimate I saved $6 in gas, spent $2 of it on coffee, got some exercise, and spent about an extra 1/2 hr commuting per day. A mixed bag. If there was a pop-up thunderstorm late in the afternoon that trapped me here at work, I don't think it would be all that positive. Oh, and I have a few extra leg aches and pains. We'll see if they go away in time. But since my car depreciates whether driven ($10/day), the insurance is the same ($2/day), and the other fees ($1/day) don't go away, I'm not really saving that much.
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I've put together something people can use to measure their pain at the pump. The first step is to take how much you spend in fuel per month and divide it by your net income per month after taxes. A person(s) making $3,000 a month and spending $150 on petrol would have a pain index of 0.05 or 5%. So where do you fit in the pain index? 0 to 2.5% - Little or no pain, unless you are in debt up to your eyeballs. 2.5% to 5% - Minor irritation. Most folks should fall in this area. You are watching gasoline prices but the cost is manageable . Your next vehicle should probably be a bit more fuel efficient, however. 5% to 10% - Uncomfortable to very uncomfortable. You probably should be thinking about a more efficient car sooner rather than later. 10% to 15% - Severe pain. Unless you live with your mom or drive a company car you really should sit down and look at your options. 15% plus - This is kidney stone kind of pain. Immediate surgery is needed. This pain index is just a rough estimate. A lot depends on how expensive it is where you live, your debt load, size of your family and so on. Adjustments would also be needed for people with very low incomes or very high incomes. We fall in the 2.5% to 5% range so things are still not having a big impact.
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Replying to: avalon02wh (Jun 12, 2008 11:24 am) 
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Replying to: texases (Jun 12, 2008 6:28 am) |
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Replying to: kernick (Jun 12, 2008 11:23 am) Lucky for him. The paperwork would have been murder.  Just kidding, I am glad you are safe. Navigating the roads with a bike is dangerous. It is one of the reasons I will not be taking my bike to work anytime soon. Things are just a wee bit too crazy for me out there on the asphalt jungle. I would get an electric car before I'd do the bike thing in our town. http://www.gemcar.com/ "Since I have no cup-holder, I don't take my coffee. " They make thirst aid helmets, beer hats and booze belts just for that kind of situation. Just make sure it is non-alcoholic beer or booze. 
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Surprise, surprise... gas prices have been coming up at the chats lately.  It's Thursday and that means time again for the longest running chat here in CarSpace, the Subaru Crew! The chat opens at 8:45 pm ET and runs until 10 pm ET. I hope you're able to join us tonight for another enjoyable evening with members of the Crew! See you there! |
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Replying to: avalon02wh (Jun 12, 2008 11:24 am) However, I am lucky in that I do a lot of discretionary driving. My initial response to escalating gas prices was to trade cars which saved me close to 50% in gas costs, and the gas hasn't doubled since then, although we are nearing that point. Bottom line is, I will be able to cut back driving if I find myself really needing to save gas money. I won't like it, but I can do it easily, thank goodness.
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Replying to: lemko (Jun 12, 2008 11:41 am) That gets into that whole pain/pleasure thing. The moderators would probably toss us out if we talked about it too much. If you are happy with the arrangement that's all that matters. 
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Replying to: kernick (Jun 12, 2008 11:23 am) 1. Try to find a shortcut away from the skinny bridge. You might can go around a block or something a little extra to avoid it. Another option is to walk the bike across the bridge. Will take a little longer, but a guy walking a bike gets driver attention more easily than a rider, whom they tend to "phase out" usually. 2. You carry a briefcase or a backpack daily? If so, just keep a little hand towel or washcloth in there to dry off your seat in the morning. Could even keep the towel in a little "seat bag" on the bike which you could get at a bike shop. 3. There are cupholders made for bike handlebars. Visit a bike shop and get you one. Then get a little timer to start the coffee maker 15 minutes early or whatever and take your coffee with you. 4. Actually, your car does MINUTELY depreciate a little less when you don't drive it, because the miles do not accumulate quite at the same rate. All else equal, a used car with 44,000 miles sells for slightly more than the same car with 48,000 miles. And ask your car insurance people for a cut rate if you are no longer using the car for the daily commute - my company gave me a break when my car stopped being my commute vehicle. 5. As far as "being trapped in the rain" you could do what I did - buy some rain gear. I bought a top and bottom from a guy who had used it on his sailboat. Got the set on craigslist for $40. Keeps me dry as a bone on the rare RARE Phoenix wet rides. Monsoon season is coming up here quickly, so I will use the rain gear a lot more very soon !!! 6. The leg soreness will eventually go away. Mine held on for about 2 weeks, maybe a little longer. ( But my legs look "buff" these days, so it was building muscle. ) I've lost 15 pounds since I started commuting by bicycle, with no other changes in diet or habits. Blood pressure dropped too, and cholesterol numbers improved. Anyway: good luck, good job, and keep it up !!!
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Replying to: nippononly (Jun 12, 2008 11:50 am) |
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