One Smart Answer to Pricey Gas? Carpooling

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shagufta 12:41AM August 27, 2009

Although gas is temporarily decreasing, most other prices are increasing so saving money of gas is a worthwhile proposition. I am interested in starting a progrm in the Daugphin County area and am invetigating different programs, blogs, and forums. If someone can help me with this project, I can be rached at swheels@verizon.net. Thank you.

Susan Schaffer of PA 3:28AM August 02, 2008

WE are to blame for this so-called gas crisis. Anyone with a half brain has known for years that the days of cheap plentiful oil will eventually come to an end. It is basic math: supplies and production capacity are fixed, while global demand is soaring. There is a huge middle class emerging in China and India that numerically exceed our entire population and those consumers can afford to drive cars now and are doing just that. We need to consume less. We need to give up our lazy wasteful lifestyle and start thinking outside the box. The prez, the Congress, oil and auto companies are not to blame. The less we drive, the less money into the pockets of the OPEC thieves who funnel profits to the terrorists in order to keep themselves in power. I hope gas goes to $5 a gallon and maybe people will wake up and start changing their wasteful lifestyle and start thinking as a community instead of as selfish individuals. I gave up my truck for a motorcycle and get 80 MPG. Gas can go to $10 a gallon as far as I'm concerned. Those who choose to live in suburbia and are tired of paying for commutes from hell should move. Stop whining and think of solutions instead of blaming everyone else.

Ron of FL 12:41PM July 09, 2008

I purchased my car used. It came with a computer which figures real -time actual gas mileage. By changing my driving habits(nothing major)-and watching the computer-I have increased my gas mileage by over 10%. By just coasting down hills and coasting up to traffic lights-and taking off slowly-you can make a big difference in your fuel mileage. I don't do anything radical, unsafe, or illegal-just change your habits a little bit-and it can make a big difference. I drive 10 miles to work-so the gas price hasn't hurt me much-it is just my way to help the situation.
One thing I do notice-there are alot of people(most) who haven't gotten the message. I remember back in the seventies when we had the gas shortage-then there were lines for a few bucks worth of gas. Our whole way of life is based on cheap gas-we moved farther from work-we bought bigger cars-we use them like we are entitled to life spent on the road. It is time to wake up. Quit blaming the government. the oil companies, spectulators-and do something about it.
Politicians are not going to tell the truth-they want to be re-elected-you don't get elected or re-elected by putting out bad news.
The place to start is with your home-there are hundreds of ways to use solar energy-not high tech stuff-not expensive stuff-but with fuel oil and natural gas prices on the rise-it is a place to start-and now, before winter sets in is the time to do it. Think gas prices are bad-wait until you are paying high heat bills too.
It may get better-temporarily-but it isn't going away. Time to wake up and do whatever you can do. Carpooling is a good idea-corporations could set up carpooling for their employees-how about a tax credit for carpooling-corporate and personal.
How about a tax credit for reducing home energy usage-control the thermostat, insulate, add solar heat,-on and on. How about government loans or grants to do major home energy renovations-this would be a "targeted" stimulus package-not a throw money to the wind stimulus package like the olast one.
Time to WAke Up

Halboy of PA 10:04AM July 05, 2008

Walking is great, but walking 8 miles/day to and from work isn't feasible for most people! The scooter is a super idea.

Sal of WY 11:19AM July 04, 2008

I absolutely agree that President Bush gave Congress plenty of notice about the dangers of not opening up drilling on U.S. soil as a temporary solution to the predicted rise in oil prices. If anything, the environmentalists and those whom they back financially such as liberals, the college elite, and the media have exacerbated this situation by convincing the public that it is all President Bush's fault. Even now Congress drags its feet and refuses to take action obviously waiting until the election is over so they know which way the public popularity contest will lean. While they wring their hands over the economy and cast blame on everyone but themselves, the problems continue. This crisis is much more complex than they acknowledge and has been caused by increased competition, instability in the Middle East, and our own lack of commitment as a nation both to the war and the energy crisis. When will we wake up and get past our obsession with our own entitlements and greed and put the good of this great country ahead of our need to take expensive vacations and buy more things to adorn ourselves and our homes?

Dolores Pendergast of NC 8:33PM July 03, 2008

Carpooling is a great way to save gas, but it needs to be done correctly and with a lot of planning or it becomes a headache.
http://savemoregas.com

SC of CA 6:41PM July 03, 2008

If EVERYONE ONLY BOUGHT GAS AT THE LOWEST PRICED STATIONS it would encourage GAS PRICE WARS.
THE MEDIA COULD HELP BY PROVIDING A LIST OF THE LOWEST PRICED STATIONS ON THE LOCAL NEWS BROADCAST. ALSO THE MEDIA COULD HELP BY STOPPING THE DAILY BROADCASTS TELLING PEOPLE GAS WILL BE X AMOUNT MORE BY SPRING OR SUMMER OR WINTER ECT>> THIS ONLY ENCOURAGES THE DEALERS TO RAISE THE PRICES, BECAUSE THEY FIGURE WE EXPECT THE INCREASE AND WILL ALL GO ALONG WITH IT..

of NY 4:40PM July 03, 2008

Might sound a little corny, but a lot people grocery shop on the same day.. Neighbors could take turns with the driving, and groups could go at once.. Or One thing we always did in my neighborhood, was if someone was going to the store anyway, they would check with our nearby neighbors to see if they also needed anything from the store and pick it up for them.. This way, only one vehicle is going.
Other things that would help are GAS RATIONING.. X amount of Gallons per Licenced Driver who actuallys owns a vehicle, no matter how rich or poor you are. Subsidies for Gas for low income people. X amount of Gallons of Gas to run equipment (ie lawnmowers, weedeaters ect per family regardless of size).
LOWER SPEED LIMITS to 55.
4 day School Weeks with extended hours.
4 day Work Weeks with extended hours where feasible.
Reinstitute Sunday Blue Laws. (for those who don't know what this is, it means that most stores and businesses are closed on Sundays.. and better plannig on the part of the individual)

of 4:34PM July 03, 2008

I agree about the Congress comment, but they wouldn't be doing that if the enviromenalists weren't paying them off. Why do they care where we drill? Also, drilling with today's standards is a lot safer then it was during the Valdez spill. I think people still need to focus on conservation, but not at the cost of the country. This could bring our entire country to its knees if we don't plan better for the future. I am all for protecting life, but let's get real. People are hurting here. My last comment is about the investors that are driving up the cost of oil. The price increases we have seen in the past few years is mostly because of the investors not being regulated. They minipulate the market and are making a ton of money doing it. There was an article about this in USA Today buried 4-5 pages deep. No one wants to open that can of worms, but it is true. And again, Bush isn't smart enough to do half the things people claim he does. So forget about that. He doesn't have the control or the forethought to come up with a plan like this 8 years ago. Most people just believe what they hear in media and then just repeat it. STOP the insanity, research your statements and beliefs people!!! State facts, not opinions!

WCM of OK 3:57PM July 03, 2008