Just like every other workday, I opened The Wall Street Journal and skimmed through the headlines while sipping at a cup of coffee.
What else could be among the main topics for the day than ever-rising gas prices, national average of which just passed the $4/gallon mark? That is supposed to act as a psychological reminder to the buyers who are expected to transform (or are already in the process of transforming, hence falling sales of SUVs) their driving habits. While the increasing price indirectly affects prices of other goods as well, the drivers’ complains are the loudest. But frankly, is $4.00 really such a high price?
According to Wikipedia, an average American car ran a little less than 25 miles per gallon. According to a 2004 USC study, an average commuting distance is 12.6 miles every day. By doing no more than simple math we will come to a conclusion that a perfectly average commuting person (that sounds strange, doesn’t it?) will spend circa $.5 extra every day on gas than it did at the beginning of the year. Continuing in citing sources, the Bureau of Labor Statistics approximates that an average hourly wage in the U.S approaches $18. Are the rising gas prices a legitimate reason for the hysteria that is taking over the suburbs? Apparently yes, take a look how Yvonne Brune (from the WSJ article) will have to change her lifestyle:
“It’s just gotten out of hand,” said 53-year-old Yvonne Brune of Des Moines, Iowa, referring to the rising cost of gasoline. Because of higher gasoline prices, Ms. Brune, who works for a printing company doing marketing on weekdays and separately as a bridal consultant on nights and weekends, no longer makes the drive home at lunchtime — a 30-mile round trip — to spend time with her dogs.
So towards whom will this milestone-price be most detrimental? To our dogs that are will miss our presence during lunch times. I agree that this reduction ad absurdum was unfair. So who else will be affected? Texas handyman Don Passman:
Because of his job, which involves commuting from his home in Allen, Texas, about 25 miles northeast of Dallas, to clients’ houses in Dallas and other towns in the area, it is nearly impossible for him to cut back on driving. “I feel like I’m being held at knifepoint,” he said. “If they charge $10 a gallon, I’m going to pay it.”
He appears desperate. But is anyone holding him in Allen, TX, a $101,000 median family income suburb of Dallas? When most of his business is done in Dallas, can’t he consider an option of moving there? Even if the real estate prices there were higher than in Allen, the money saved on gas would in long run offset the costs. Given that he does not hold an office job and driving beyond commuting is a necessity for him, moving closer to his clients would be the most economical solution. He could switch towards a more fuel efficient car as well; does he really need a pick up truck?
The massive escape from cities towards following the WWII happened thanks to conditions that didn’t have bother with energy efficiency. But those are long gone, won’t return, and we should once again adjust to that.
I am not saying expensive gas is good. What I am saying is that on whichever level would the price finally stabilize on, adapting won’t be fatal to our lifestyles and our wallets when it comes to driving. When making sacrifices, one will have to choose his priorities and if moving is not a desirable option, upgrading to a more efficient car, optimizing trips and cutting down redundant trips will make the change. If one’s not willing to do that, then I have no mercy for him.
