I'm struck by the number of surveys, statistics & anecdotals showing people adapting to rising fuel prices by using their vehicles less frequently and/or driving them more efficiently when they do.
The latest surprising statistic is that the 'school run' is losing favour - apparently more kids now walk to school - good for the kids I say. Cycling is up, roads & mororways are less congested (esp. at rush hour/ school run time), more car sharing, less fuel spent in jams etc. etc.
Personally, I find myself driving even more efficiently than I did & cutting out the driving equivalent of 'snacks', e.g. not dashing out to buy one thing, but being a bit more planned & systematic & 'multiplexing' utility/pleasure trips where I can. All in all, I think my fuel costs have actually gone down - with no apparent loss of function or pleasure.
It's almost fun being more frugal & getting the same (lifestyle) for less.
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Something I've done for years.
If there is a job which involves getting into the car to go collect something, and it can wait a day or two (or even an hour or two in some cases), I will stick it on the board to be done when I've got a number of tasks I need doing then will go the rounds in the car.
My reasoning for this has always been not taking the car for short runs wherever possible but going out for fewer, longer journeys keeps them in better condition. The fuel costs have never come into it -- but in effect I am saving fuel as well.
Perhaps this is why I'm not too bothered about rising fuel costs -- most longer journeys I make are paid for by my employer at a significantly higher rate than the fuel costs me -- and that rate has gone up to suit the increased fuel costs.
This has resulted in me profiting out of the pump prices. Whereas before I was paying out maybe 10p/mile and getting back 35p, now I am paying 12 or 13p per mile and getting 45p. Seems fair enough to me -- roll on the next hike!
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roads & mororways are less congested (esp. at rush hour/ school run time)
Where do you live? Traffic to get out of my village in the morning is as bad as it has ever been, except that you can't even predict what time it will be worst any more, and my experience of the North and West part of the M25 is that it's worse than when I last used it regularly sveveral years ago. I'd love everybody else to get off the road and let me get on my way :-). But I don't see it yet.
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>>Where do you live?
N. Wales. The 'less congested M-ways' bit I culled from a survey in an article in the DT.
Perhaps though, you're 'lucky' enough to live in an area less affected by the big-CC?
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There's still just as many cars on the road in our neck of the woods, and still just as few public transport vehicles. It's no good the government (or anyone else for that matter) whining at us to use our cars less until there's a better public transport infrastructure.
Edited by L'escargot on 02/10/2008 at 14:46
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have you noticed when it rains it just as bad as usual....lots of cyclists (and i am one ) and the kids revert back to the car.
I used to walk / cycle 4 miles to school and when it rained I walked / cycled 4 miles to school.
Sitting in school all day in wet clothes was normal, indeed watching your clothes dry when wearing them, was a quality i excelled at, second only to looking out the window.
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We've NEVER used our cars for less than a ten mile journey;it's feet or bike.
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