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Automotive News & Views How does gas at $4 and higher impact you?
2183 messages, Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 5:13 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 09, 2008 9:15 am) I'm in sort of a similar situation. Looking out of my house, you'd think I was out in the middle of nowhere, and with 4+ acres, I'm not hemmed in. But if I really want to I can be in DC in about 15 minutes, Annapolis in 20 or so, or Baltimore in a half-hour, if traffic cooperates. |
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people were designed to live in the cramped conditions of "most" big cities but there are enough doing just that to prove not everyone feels the same way. If I lived in LA I would confine my walks to daytime only. I wouldn't be as cautious in Colorado Springs. Still in California most industries moves from downtown as did most reasonable shopping. Parking is a problem that is solved by large industrial parks, like they have in Orange County, and shopping malls like the Mall of America in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Whatever fuel someone might save by living in one of the big cities is negated by the expense of property and the cost of services. In my opinion only. So I would rather see fuel prices less that $4.00 that see people moving back into the big cities. I also believe if the big cities start charging people for the privelage of driving into them then businesses will simply move out where the customers can get to them and park for free. Vehicles are not going away we just need to find a way to use them better than we are now. Cheap fuel will have to do for now but alternatives need to be worked on as sonn as possible so we don’t run into this problem as quickly again.
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Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 09, 2008 12:21 pm) Living in Vancouver BC would be a hoot, especially since they've spent the last two decades getting families back downtown. Downtown LA rolls its sidewalks up at 6 pm. |
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Replying to: ponderpoint (Nov 09, 2008 8:43 am) The only problems with that are 1.) spending the same or less for housing means getting a home in a bad neighborhood or getting a real small condo in a average neighborhood. and 2.) my job will still be in the suburbs and my daily drives would be much longer (although a reverse commute). |
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A city the size of Victoria BC might be ok. Vancouver is huge. I will drive a 100 miles out of my way to avoid a big city if possible. When I am forced to drive to or through LA I do it in the wee hours of the morning. Seattle is probably the worst traffic on the West coast. I also believe if the big cities start charging people for the privilege of driving into them then businesses will simply move out where the customers can get to them and park for free. Many downtown shopping areas have died because of traffic & parking fees. The only time I shop downtown is for a specialty item. There is NOTHING I want to see or be a part of that can justify paying $7 to $10 for parking. Been at least two years since I was downtown San Diego shopping. I can get it all on line cheaper and NO high sales tax. The Zoo and Balboa park are still free parking. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 09, 2008 1:35 pm) "Many downtown shopping areas have died because of traffic & parking fees" That's true for Seattle...it's funny that I can see downtown Seattle from my office, yet I go there only a few times a year. It's terrible to drive in, the public transit is half baked at best, parking can be impossible, etc. Bellevue WA has a somewhat forward thinking developer named Kemper Freeman who has fathered a large commercial development downtown, with free parking being a key point. It's now the most highly regarded shopping space in the region. The downtown here is doing very well even in the slowing economy. Within 20 minutes walk of where I live I have several grocery stores, drugstores, good restaurants, more shopping than a trophy wife could handle, and so on. But, it aint cheap to live here.
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Replying to: fintail (Nov 09, 2008 2:18 pm) Personally I am willing to support my down town stores as long as I am not taxed, tolled, or restricted in parking to do so. So I might pay a bit more to shop locally if fuel is $2.50 a gallon. But if they are going to charge a toll to get into the city or extra to park there I might just as well hit the mall or Wal-Mart. |
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Replying to: fintail (Nov 09, 2008 2:18 pm) There is the key. In a weak moment I thought of moving downtown and having all those nice restaurants and the concert halls within walking distance or a short cab ride. We had someone that wanted to trade his condo for our house in the crowded suburbs. We looked at it and it had two small underground parking spots. A view of Little Italy and constant traffic noise unless you kept all the doors & windows shut. If you cannot have the windows open 300+ days of the year in So California you are missing the main reason for living here. It was a nice condo but not $600k nice. Probably get a steal on it now for $450k. We still have the house in the crowded suburbs for sale. Family squatting there right now as they lost their home to a loan we advised against. Foreclosure happens in every family it seems. We would still be as far from Costco as we are now. So would not save much gas. Spend more time getting away from the constant noises and smells in the city. A condo in La Jolla or up the coast if I ever have a couple extra million to unvest. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 09, 2008 1:35 pm)
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 09, 2008 5:07 pm) |
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