| What if Gas prices shoot up to 6 dollars a gallon? | | | | me and 1200 yearly. That brings owning a car up to |
| What would happen? How would you go about living | | | | 4,700 a year in the near future. Remember I am not |
| everyday? Right now as of April 19, 2010 gas prices in | | | | counting maintenance so it might even be higher. Now |
| Portland Oregon are about 3.20 per gallon and it is | | | | lets look at the alternatives to owning a car. There is |
| getting a little tough filling up my car at around 45 | | | | walking, bicycling, motorcycle, moped, bus, streetcar, |
| dollars for a full tank. A yes, my car is 2002 volvo s40 | | | | train, etc… Which of these are low cost and easy to |
| and for me it performs and rides pretty good. I am | | | | live with? Probably moped, walking, and cycling. |
| content with it and I don't want anything that gets | | | | I love bicycles so I am gonna choose cycling to be the |
| lower mileage. The s40 does 22 city and about 32 | | | | greenest option of transport that does not require |
| highway. I am sorry but I am I have to describe how | | | | much money or gas. Plus its faster than walking. |
| great this engine is. It is a 1.9 Turbo engine paired with a | | | | Bicycling has many advantages and disadvantages. |
| five speed automatic. Horsepower is 165 and 179 | | | | Advantages are it helps you lose weight, cheap, |
| pounds of tourqe. It gets about 300 to 340 miles per | | | | increases stamina, and is low cost. Disadvantages are |
| tank on a 12 gallon tank. For a comfortable sedan, this | | | | it will require more money spent on food. How about |
| is more than good for me. But recently I have been | | | | make a calculation? Purchase of decent bike = $500 , |
| pondering about the idea of riding a bike to work, and | | | | maintenance cost per month = 20 to 40 dollars. Food |
| or to school. I have been also thinking about the future. | | | | costs…well maybe around 100 to 150 a week in |
| The concept of riding a bike to save money on gas | | | | Oregon. I don't know how much it costs outside of the |
| and insurance is very attractive. | | | | states so I will stop there. Oh man this is getting long. I |
| But the question remains, could gas prices reach a | | | | am so passionate when it comes to saving money, |
| point in the future where it is close to impossible to fill | | | | that I tend to keep going. Anyway, I have narrowed |
| up a car? Say for instance 8 dollars a gallon. I have | | | | cycling as one of my favorite alternative to owning |
| heard that germany has already reached 7 or 8 dollars | | | | and running a car if gas prices escalated. Why? |
| a gallon. Scary! That would translate into 8 * 12 = 96 | | | | Because cycling is cheap, reliable, fun, easy, and best |
| dollars. So lets do some calculations, right now I need | | | | of all it does not produce carbon dioxide or wasteful |
| about 40 dollars to fill up my car and this can last me | | | | gases. All green energy! I am so eager to find out |
| for a week. At 8 dollars a gallon its going to be 96 | | | | what you would do if gas prices escalated to 8 or |
| dollars a week. Insane! 96 * 3 weeks = 288 dollars. | | | | possibly 10 dollars a gallon here in the states. What |
| Lets take 288 and times it by 12 months = $3,456 | | | | would you do? |
| yearly. WOW! Plus insurance which is 600 a month for | | | | |