10 Things to Like about $4 gasoline

[pegkerr]

Interesting.

I have certainly been seeing 'way more bikes on the road. On Monday, I probably could have counted somewhere between 50 and 100 bicycles on my way home, a trip which is just under five miles. The Minneapolis Greenway is just teeming with bicycles.

Comments

[naomikritzer]

I was thinking yesterday that bikes are probably a growth industry -- in particular, adaptations to bikes that allow you to use them as car substitutes, like flatbed cargo trailers.

At the Rainbow the other day, I noticed a flatbed bike trailer with six large plastic totes strapped to the back for the groceries. Then again, that person may have been using a bike to grocery shop for years -- it's just that I'm noticing them more now.

[byrlakin.livejournal.com]

Finally there is someone who is finding the benefits of it.

Also, it was very cool that they mentioned my community college on there!

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Indeed, last year I think I saw probably 5 other bicycles all year. This year I've seen up to 3 in one day. That's a huge number here where most people have at least 10 miles to go, and the attitude is still mostly that only homeless or people with DUIs would ride a bike.

[serenya-loreden.livejournal.com]

I don't bike, partly because I've all but forgotten how, and partly because when I purchased a bike, it didn't really fit me properly (I'm 4'9"). On the other hand, when my husband and I purchased our home in 2002, we chose it, not on convenience to the hwy (it isn't) but convenience to the train line that my employer is on. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for his job, but 1) his is closer then mine and 2) he can drop me off and pick me up at the station, so only one car is in use (and we bought a Scion, very fuel efficient, for him). I absolutely love being able to take the train by the way, it's a strong incentive to not change jobs.

[airemay.livejournal.com]

Great article! Thanks for the link!

[mark356.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd already thought of most of those, and I'm cheering for the $4/gallon and hoping for $6 or $7. The pollution, public health benefits, local production things, and public transit all go hand-in-hand, I think. But I never thought about the four-day schoolweek! There's more reasons to cheer for $7 a gallon than I thought.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

The one about four day work weeks was really interesting. That may mean 4, 10 hour days, but still... job turnover down 44%?! Sick leave down 50%? And over a quarter-million dollars less spent on energy in one three-month period?

Wow. I know that the clerestory windows in the living room have been back-burnered for years while we put in more efficient windows elsewhere. But W actually suggested I check out the prices at Andersen Windows, since they have a special on windows they install.

I had suggested UV film, but this might be even better. The living room is the one place where we want more insulation and can't get it -- the distance between room and roof is only a couple of feet, and it's sealed from either side of the house. We can a) rip the roof off/wait until shingles need replacing, and do it then. b)We can space bubble the ceiling and put another ceiling below that. Or C -- move the thermostat for the bedrooms, which is also in the open hallway by the living room.

I hate this constant nickel and dime-ing. W even got a new bike pump. To work is not a problem -- heading home, when it's 98 F and the humidity is also in the nineties? Brutal.